DNC Candidate Questionnaires

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On Sunday June 15th, the Executive Board (E-Board) of the California Democratic Party will elect 19 delegates to the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

The DNC members, super delegates each elected to a four-year term, may participate on the Democratic Party's platform, rules or other committees and be seated at the 2012 Democratic Party convention, when delegates vote for a Presidential nominee.

A group of progressive California Democratic Party Executive Board members are organizing the Progressive E-Board Coalition, asking DNC candidates to fill out a questionnaire on ending the US occupation of Iraq, developing alternative energy, campaigning for public financing of elections, working to eliminate poverty, safeguarding the integrity of our vote, abolishing the death penalty, and much more.

The Progressive E-Board Coalition plans to circulate the questionnaires at the E-Board meeting, when hundreds of members are expected to vote on DNC candidates. Sure to stimulate conversation is the question -- How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the leadership's support for war funding?

To find out where a DNC candidate stands on de-funding the war and more, click on a specific candidate or scroll down to view questionnaires.

To show where each questionnaire begins and ends, questionnaires alternate in red and blue.

**NEW - Click here to tell us what qualities you want in a DNC Member,

** NEW - Click here to view Democrats responses to what they want in a DNC Member .

Click on a Candidate (in order received):

Christopher Stampolis

Ahjamu Makalani

David Sonneborn

Or Scroll Down:

Progressive E-Board Coalition - DNC Candidate Questionnaire

Mal Burnstein/Progressive Caucus Northern California Co-Chair

(answers received on 5/22/08 5:27 PM)

If you are not an incumbent, what have you done to address the issues enumerated above?

I have been active through the progressive caucus and otherwise on most of these issues for many years. We (the progressive caucus) did a paper and a forum on Iraq (and Iran), some of our paper is now in the party platform at our insistence; eliminating poverty is a plank in the progressive caucus platform; we did a paper and forum on single payer, and I fought to get it in the party platform; I have been a grassroots supporter of eliminating the DRE machines with no paper trail, and a long time supporter of public financing of elections, both of which are a progressive caucus priority, and I fought to get public financing of elections into the party platform, I have worked with Loni Hancock on public financing since long before she went to the Assembly, have been a strong supporter of AB 583, and took the lead in getting it into the CDP platform; I have advocated eliminating the death penalty for years – both politically and professionally -- and was on an ACLU project to repeal it in the 70’s; I haven’t done much on alternate energy, except in my own life.

; the progressive caucus has supported net neutrality and got it in the party platform; the caucus had a forum on impeachment; I have continuously opposed our bloated prison industry at the expense of our schools and colleges, and the incarceration of so many of our young people; and I have strongly, both inside and outside the party professionally, personally and politically, supported LGBT rights and marriage equality.

If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent 178-billion dollar war package?

Along side Barbara Lee, against the war and all war funding.

How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the leadership's support for war funding?

The progressive caucus paper and forum opposed war funding; I have posted opposing it, signed petitions and marched on that issue.

Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who is challenging

an incumbent on the issues? Explain.

Yes. I was one of those running the campaign of Bob Scheer against pro war (Viet Nam war) Democratic Congressman Jeffrey Cohelan in 1965-66. Then, when the Scheer campaign narrowly failed, I supported both John George and Ron Dellums (successfully) against Cohelan. I have supported many challenges to incumbents around the country since then, including the challenge to Jane Harmon in 06. I wrote the resolution asking the Party to censure Feinstein.

What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent progressive values on the E-Board? or

Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC delegate?.

Because of my almost 50 yr. history of working for progressive change, both personally and professionally (in my civil rights and civil liberties practice). Viz:

? Active in CDC in the 1960’s when it was the center of progressivism in the CDP.

? Attorney for, and member of CORE (and an attorney for the NAACP, and the Ad Hoc Committee to end Segregation) when we desegregated employment in department stores, markets, banks, hotels, auto showrooms, restaurants, etc. in Northern California.

? Chief counsel for the Free Speech Movement at UCB.

? Active opponent of the War in Viet Nam, including planning anti war marches.

? Ran (with several others) an anti war candidate (Bob Scheer) against an incumbent pro war Democratic Congressman (Jeffrey Cohelan); supported Ron Dellums in his successful campaign against the same Democratic incumbent.

? Active opponent of the War on and occupation of Iraq.

? Participated in the running of campaigns of, and supported numerous progressive candidates for local office, Assembly and Senate.

? Strong supporter of Barbara Lee and treasurer of her leadership PAC (One Voice).

? I was an early and strong supporter of Howard Dean, and went to Iowa for that campaign.

? One of seven founders of the Progressive Caucus of the CDP.

? Significant role in getting the 2006 platform (carried over to the 2008 platform) to adopt public financing of elections and single payer planks.

? ?Author of the resolution to censure Feinstein.

Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not?

Not so that they can override the will of the majority of the party’s voters. It is, not to put too fine a point on it, undemocratic.

Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other candidates running on your slate and what was the process for choosing these candidates to run with you?

I am running with Mayme Hubert, Ralph Miller, Karen Bernal and Norman Solomon. We talked among ourselves and decided to run as a slate because we agree on issues and the role of the DNC. There was no process by which we were selected.

What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member?

My lifetime as a people’s lawyer and my many years of experience in grassroots and progressive politics, some of the specifics of which are listed above, constitute the experience I can call upon as a candidate for, and a member of the DNC.

On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal
goals for each committee?

I want to serve on the Rules and Bylaws committee. My goals will be to rationalize the nominating process to eliminate the Florida and Michigan problem in 2012, and to do away with the situation in which super delegates can defeat the majority of voters of the party.

DNC Questionnaire

Rachel Binah (incumbent)

(received 5/25/08 2:59 PM)

What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent progressive values on the E-Board? or

Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC delegate?.

Many of us have an important (as Christine Pelosi says in her book,) "calling" to politics. (Otherwise, we wouldn't spend all our time and all our money to be involved!) The subject of these 'callings' vary between us but, in combination, include all of the major progressive issues of our time. Of course we are generalists in the sense that we care about all of the issues on the Democratic Party Platform list -- but we are also "specialists". Most of us work together as a team to cover all the bases.

I am your voice for the environment on the DNC.

My major concern is the environment (I am the Chair Emeritus of the Environmental Caucus, served on the Platform Committee as Chair of the Environmental Plank, and also on the Resolutions Committee)-- but even in that general category, I must chose one or two major things upon which to focus. I, along with others of the community in which I live, have been instrumental in protecting the coast of California from new offshore oil development. If I had no focus but picked ALL important issues, I would have no clout on those I feel are most important to ME.

The best advice I have ever been given: I was told by, former Representative Sala Burton (member of congress representing San Francisco) that when I walk into a room, the elected officials in that room should know that I want no offshore oil -- without my having to say a word.

We have to pick our battles. Each of us has an area of expertise to offer in order make this a better and, yes more progressive, country.

That said, here are the answers to your issue questions.

a) Iraq War: In the months before the Iraq invasion, I spoke at a plenary session of the DNC regarding the 2000 pound elephant in the room about which none of the presenters was speaking. I begged the DNC to take a position in opposition to what appeared to be, and ultimately was, a rush to a war with a country not involved in the events of September 11th. At that time, there were millions of people marching in the streets of the major cities of the world. I was the only person to speak openly and perhaps with some insistent and consistent naivete at that particular meeting -- although most were, and still are, in total opposition to our involvement in Iraq!

The DNC was not taking a position for two reasons.

#1 Because a few of our elected officials were in support of the war (because they had been given erroneous or outright untrue information) and some were afraid they would be viewed as unpatriotic if they didn't support the administration. (You may remember that those were the days when 9/11 was linked over and over again to Iraq even though to many of us there was no connection. You will also remember that although there was only one vote against entering Afghanistan, most Democrats voted against going to war with Iraq.)

#2 They were focusing on the presidential election of 2004 and felt the DNC should concentrate on the issues in that election process. They actually believed that the war would be over in "6 weeks"!

Our country and ALL THAT WE CARE ABOUT is suffering from the hemorrhaging of money and loss of life because of this needless and irrational war.

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b) Eliminating Poverty: I have not been able to eliminate poverty but do contribute money and time for various organizations. (food bank, children's fund for support services, etc.) I support the Democratic Party platform. I also strongly support unions and working families. I am a member of the CTA and the Labor Caucus. Good paying jobs -- at a living wage -- are an important part of the elimination of poverty -- as are health care and education and many other considerations. I support minimum wage increases. I support a Living Wage. I support the need for homeless people to get help in the form of places to live, shelters, low cost housing, rent control and for those who do not wish to live in shelters, places to shower (keep clean), get health care and food.

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c) Universal Single Payer Health Care: The only way we can have quality universal health care is if we eliminate the middle man. (insurance companies) I have expressed my opinion on this issue verbally and in letters to every elected official with whom I have contact. I also helped to work on the platform language in several cycles.

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d) Making each vote count: I was involved with my county's choice and selection of voting equipment and we have a paper trail for it. I supported Debra Bowen for Secretary of State.

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e) Invading Iran: The reason I endorsed Bill Richardson for President is because he was the first one of the candidates to say we must make peace with our enemies through negotiation --talking being the most obvious and important aspect of negotiating. As a 5 time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize and our Ambassador to the UN, I felt he would be the best of the candidates to create renewed respect for our country in the world and avoid unnecessary conflict and outright war.

Invading Iran appears to me to be a foolish and dangerous idea at which we would not only fail (because we do not have the troop levels to support -- or the money to supply even if we did)but would further disrupt the middle east and not help our neighbors, friends or allies. All-together a frightening thought........ and one I strongly oppose. Our country is hemoraging from the war effort in Iraq.

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f) Free & Open Internet. I supported the resolution, passed at our Executive Board and Convention, to that effect.

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g) Impeachment/Indictment: Impeachment is too good for Bush and Cheney. They are war criminals and should be in prison for the rest of their lives. (I do NOT support the death penalty). I don't think there is any question that they would already have been impeached if we had the votes in both the House and the Senate to over-ride a Republican veto!

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h)Education over Incarceration: I am a member of the California Teacher's Association, a mentor for teenagers in my community, and a strong supporter of education. I teach political action in the various high schools in my community. Obviously, unless education is available to all, we will continue to put more and more people in prison.

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i) Marriage Equality: I support the LGBT community and believe the quest for civil rights and equality is universal. Our society is better off when people are encouraged to form lasting committed relationships and marriage equality for all should be a goal.

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I have added 5 new categories which were not on your list:

J. IMMIGRATION REFORM. Not on your list ? HOW COME? I have marched in solidarity with the undocumented immigrants in my community because they have given so much to us and because I believe they should be welcomed, given respect -- AND drivers licenses and citizenship if they want it.

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K. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE RIGHTS Not on your list?

I support a woman's right to chose what to do with her body. I served on the board of a woman's shelter/hotline for rape and domestic violence. The CAARE project.

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L. ENVIRONMENTAL OIL/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY EFFORTS -- there are no environmental issues on your questionnaire.........

see above.

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M. SENIOR Issues -- not on your list

I served on the board of the regional senior center on the coast of my county. I am especially concerned about day programs for the elderly who have Alzheimers and Parkinson's disease. My father died of Alzheimer's Disease and I took care of both parents before they died -- as most people in this country will have to do, in one way or another -- if their parents live long enough. These are issues for people both old and young.

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N. MENTAL HEALTH - not on your list of questions

I am the former Chair of the Mental Health Advisory Board of Mendocino County and a strong advocate for services for people with emotional and developmental disability difficulties.

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O. DEATH PENALTY - I oppose

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If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent 178-billion dollar war package?

If I had been in Congress, I would have voted against going into or funding the war. Further I would have voted to give vets benefits for education and health care.

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Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who is challenging

an incumbent on the issues? Explain.

I once (in the 1980's) had the fantasy of challenging my then congressman who was not willing to publicly object to or work against off shore oil development. (This in a district which comprises 1/3 of the California coast and strongly opposed all offshore drilling!) After forming an exploratory committee and seriously considering a candidacy, I didn't run, because among MANY other reasons, I realized I didn't want to be a generalist in congress.) The congressman did eventually lose his seat -- and for that issue.

It is a very serious matter to challenge an incumbent Democrat. To support that kind of undermining effort, no matter how well meant, must never be perceived to be a frivolous nor self-aggrandizing action. And more importantly, must be possible to achieve without loosing that seat to a Republican. I know of no one with whom I agree completely all of the time. I even disagree with myself upon occasion.....................

We will not succeed in having a more progressive party, or country, or turn red areas blue, without understanding that an elected official MUST be a suitable fit for his or her district. My own current congressman is a Blue Dog Democrat. Although we sometimes disagree, he voted against the war originally, against funding the war, and supports the environmental issues about which I care so passionately. I have supported him -- although he is not a clone of me -- and will continue to do so. He represents our district VERY WELL.

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WHAT EXPERIENCE HAS PREPARED YOU TO RUN AS A DNC MEMBER?

Please do not discriminate against people who have been in the party for more than the last election cycle. We have something to offer. We have made valuable relationships with people from all over the country. We use that access well, on your behalf. We care about what you care about. Our strategies may sometimes be different, but our goals are the same. You can teach us some new tricks. We can teach you some things too. In order to be successful, we need everyone!

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DNC Questionnaire – Steve Young (congressional candidate)

(received responses – 5/25/08 11:38 am)

IF YOU ARE NOT A DNC INCUMBENT, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING ISSUES?

    A) Ending the US occupation of Iraq
    I was the first PDA-endorsed candidate because I openly, and consistently oppose the occupation of Iraq. See my web site, www.SteveYoungforcongress.com/ for my policy platform to bring our sons and daughters home.

    B) Eliminating Poverty
    I have campaigned to fully fund Head Start for all eligible children, cut taxes for the middle class and insist on "fair share" taxation, committed to better education for the poor, reforming welfare to include broader job training programs, fighting for tough, effective trade laws and encourage investment in research and development for emerging technologies, advocating FHA loans with higher limits so renters can become home owners, health care for all, and launching a domestic GI bill to guarantee a college education to everyone willing to give two years community service as police officers, teachers, health care personnel, and other vital professions.

    C) Promoting Universal Single-Payer Healthcare
    I support single payer universal healthcare. My website, www.steveyoungforcongress.com prominently displays a “Healthcare not Warfare” button.

    D) Ensuring Election Integrity
    I supported Debra Brown’s election as California’s Secretary of State. She has established election integrity standards that I support making the national standard.

    E) Preventing a US attack on Iran
    I have appeared on Farsi language television, broadcast live around the world and opposed an attack on Iran. I have posted blog diaries, and written editorials opposing an attack on Iran.

    F) Preserving a free and open Internet
    I support a free and open Internet.

    G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney
    I was endorsed by ImpeachPAC. I have advocated impeachment on DailyKos. I have signed petitions calling for impeachment.

    H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration
    I have not, though I support the concept. Rehabilitation is more effective than punishment.

    I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality
    I am endorsed by ECCO, Orange County’s LGBT because of my consistent and longstanding support for equality and fair treatment of LGBT persons.

    J) Promoting public financing of elections
    It is one of my campaign platforms to get lobbyists out of the pockets of our leaders.

    K) Abolishing the death penalty
    I have not done anything to eliminate the death penalty.

    L) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence
    I advocate renewable clean energy as a fundamental plank of my campaign for congress.

IF YOU HAD BEEN IN CONGRESS, HOW WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED FOR THE MOST RECENT 178-BILLION DOLLAR WAR PACKAGE?

    Only if time tables for withdrawal of our troops had remained in the bill. Upon removal of the time tables, I oppose the funding bill.

HOW HAVE YOU USED YOUR ACTIVISM OR PARTY INVOLVEMENT TO CHALLENGE THE LEADERSHIP'S SUPPORT FOR WAR FUNDING?

    I speak out against the occupation and the funding for it. I see the elimination of funding as the only way to precipitate a withdrawal of our soldiers from Iraq.

HAVE YOU EVER SUPPORTED AN INSURGENT PRIMARY CANDIDATE OR SOMEONE WHO IS CHALLENGING AN INCUMBENT ON THE ISSUES? EXPLAIN.

    For the last three years, I have been an insurgent progressive primary candidate challenging an incumbent on the issues. I have spent $350,000 of my own money to do so. I continue to challenge the incumbent in the Ca-48th district.

WHAT QUALIFIES YOU, IN TERMS OF YOUR ORGANIZING WORK, TO REPRESENT PROGRESSIVE VALUES ON THE E-BOARD?

    I have put 200 precinct captains in place in my district. Every two weeks I conduct precinct organizing courses in my campaign office. I teach organizing and precinct networking. My whole campaign is a grassroots-based organizing campaign.

DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD HAVE SUPER DELEGATES? WHY OR WHY NOT?

    I oppose the concept of super delegates. I am an elected delegate for Obama to the National Convention. I attended the delegate meeting in Sacramento recently, and watched the way the appointed delegates were pushed through. The super delegates and the appointed delegates dilute the power of the elected delegates. We need representative delegates that express the will of the voters, not the back room deals of party insiders. I intend as a member of the DNC to advocate to eliminate super delegates and to make all delegates “elected delegates.”

ARE YOU RUNNING ON A SLATE WITH OTHER CANDIDATES? IF SO, WHO ARE THE OTHER CANDIDATES RUNNING ON YOUR SLATE AND WHAT WAS THE PROCESS FOR CHOOSING THESE CANDIDATES TO RUN WITH YOU?

    Not that I know of, though I would like to run with other progressive candidates for the DNC.

WHAT EXPERIENCE HAS PREPARED YOU TO RUN AS A DNC MEMBER?

    After three years running as a candidate in a very difficult district, I feel that I know as much as anyone about what it takes to win. That is the purpose of the DNC is to win. I want to bring a progressive voice, experienced in electioneering, to the DNC to advocate for a progressive Democratic strategy for victory.

ON WHICH COMMITTEE(S) WOULD YOU LIKE TO SERVE AND WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL GOALS FOR EACH COMMITTEE?

    I want to serve on the budget and finance committee (however membership is limited so the likelihood is remote). I would also like an appointment to the Rules and Bylaws Committee. As a member of that committee, I feel that recommendations for amendment of the bylaws or adoption of rules for the DNC can lead to a progressive change to the DNC and the party.

Steve Young, Candidate for DNC
"Restoring trust to the DNC"
(949) 338-4459

101 Pacifica #100
Irvine, California 92618

From: Norman Solomon

Progressive E-Board Coalition

DNC Candidate Questionnaire

Norman Solomon (received 5/26/08 1:37 PM)

If you are an incumbent DNC member, what have you done as a DNC member to
promote the progressive agenda on the following issues:

A) Ending the US occupation of Iraq
B) Eliminating Poverty
C) Promoting Universal Single-Payer Healthcare
D) Ensuring Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted as cast)
E) Preventing a US attack on Iran
F) Preserving a free and open Internet
G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney
H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration
I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality

J) Promoting public financing of elections

K) Abolishing the death penalty

L) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence

If you are not a DNC incumbent, what have you done to address the issues enumerated above?

A) Ending the US occupation of Iraq

From 2002 to the present, I’ve vocally opposed the invasion and occupation of Iraq with actions including:

* organized and went on three pre-invasion peace missions to Baghdad (with former U.S. Senator James Abourezk, D-S.D.; actor/director Sean Penn; former UN Assistant Secretary General Denis Halliday);

* appeared on CNN and other major TV networks as a guest more than a dozen times to argue for diplomacy instead of a U.S. attack;

* wrote the books Target Iraq: What the News Media Didn’t Tell You (2003) and War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death (2005);

* spoke on literally hundreds of radio and TV programs against the occupation and against manipulation of media for the war during the last five years including as an interviewee in Bill Moyers’ recent PBS documentary Buying the War;

* wrote dozens of articles every year against the occupation;

* participated as a speaker in antiwar forums and protests in about 20 states;

* participated in the Congressional Progressive Caucus screening of the film War Made Easy, based on my book of the same name, on Capitol Hill in December 2007;

* have worked as a member of my local chapters of Democracy For America and Progressive Democrats of America to strengthen grassroots activism for ending the war;

* spoke from the floor of the 2007 California Democratic Convention in opposition to preventing a vote on a strong out-of-Iraq resolution;

* have worked as a member of the state party’s Progressive Caucus to strengthen antiwar positions;

* lobbied against the war at the Capitol in Washington.

B) Eliminating Poverty

I’ve consistently advocated for the elimination of poverty in many hundreds of speeches and articles and in active support of many Democratic candidates since 1972.

C) Promoting Universal Single-Payer Healthcare

I’m the founder and coordinator of North Bay Healthcare Not Warfare, which works in support of Sen. Sheila Kuehl’s S.B. 840 and in support of Rep. John Conyers’ H.R. 676. I am also co-chair of the national Healthcare NOT Warfare campaign along with co-chairs Donna Smith (featured in Sicko), Marilyn Clement (national coordinator of Healthcare-NOW) and Rep. Conyers, with the goal of universal single-payer healthcare. I have spoken at events for single-payer healthcare from Santa Rosa and Sacramento to New York City and Washington, D.C.

D) Ensuring Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted as cast)

In my capacity as the executive director of the nonprofit Institute for Public Accuracy, I have worked on dozens of national news releases to expose undemocratic breaches of election integrity and to get progressive advocates for election protection onto TV and radio.

E) Preventing a US attack on Iran

In 2005, I traveled to Tehran and met with a wide range of citizens and officials. For several years I’ve written and spoken widely against any attack on Iran.

F) Preserving a free and open Internet

Beginning in the early 1990s, I’ve spoken out and written many articles warning against commercialization and censorship of the Internet. I have written and spoken often for “net neutrality” as an activist and as a longtime associate of the media watchdog group FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting).

G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney

I worked for the pro-impeachment resolution at the 2007 California Democratic Convention and have spoken in favor of impeachment at rallies and forums.

H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration

I’ve spoken at public events for sharp increases in education funding and sharp decreases in funding for prisons in California, as well as for major new funding to help former prisoners on the outside.

I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality

I’ve spoken at forums and other events unequivocally in favor of LGBT rights and marriage equality.

J) Promoting public financing of elections

As a member of the national advisory board of Progressive Democrats of America, I work in support of PDA’s core position for public financing and clean elections. I’ve spoken out for those positions on many radio programs over the years.

K) Abolishing the death penalty

At San Quentin, I’ve participated in protests against executions and have written against the death penalty, including in my 2007 book Made Love, Got War: Close Encounters With America’s Warfare State. I have spoken at forums and rallies to abolish the death penalty.

L) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence

As an activist I began working to support solar and wind energy -- in tandem with working on nonviolent direct action campaigns against nuclear power -- during the late 1970s. Since then, I’ve often spoken out in favor of clean renewable energy.

If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent 178-billion dollar war package?

I would have voted an emphatic “No.”

How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the leadership's support for war funding?

Please see my response to question “A” above. Also, I’ve strongly supported my antiwar Congressman Lynn Woolsey. In addition, in the process of calling for an end to congressional acquiescence to Iraq war funding, I’ve written countless articles and have often spoken on radio and TV including as a guest several times on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal program.

Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who is challenging an incumbent on the issues? Explain.

I supported Donna Edwards’ successful primary challenge to Rep. Al Wynn in Maryland.

What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent progressive values on the E-Board? or Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC delegate?

The range and extent of my work outlined in this questionnaire -- and overall my 40 years of activism for the environment, peace, economic justice, civil rights, social justice and civil liberties -- have prepared me to represent progressive values effectively. Online readers of this questionnaire can see a short video interview of me on the subject of “progressive values” at:

http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_edwin_ru_080523_progressive_values_s.htm

Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not?

I think that the role of super delegates should be circumscribed so that the will of primary and caucus voters could not be overturned at a national convention.

Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other candidates running on your slate and what was the process for choosing these candidates to run with you?

I’m running on a slate with Karen Bernal, Mal Burnstein, Mayme Hubert and Ralph Miller. I spoke with those candidates and decided that we have a shared commitment to progressive principles, very complementary skills and a basis for strong working relationships for pursuing progressive goals on the Democratic National Committee.

What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member?

The aggregate of my 40 years of experience as a political activist and analyst -- including as a member of the State Central Committee and the national advisory board of Progressive Democrats of America as well as dozens of other progressive organizations -- has prepared me to run for the DNC.

On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal
goals for each committee?

I’d like to serve on the DNC’s Resolutions Committee. My personal goals for the DNC committees are:

--- Rules & Bylaws:

Clarity and equity within all party structures and procedures.

--- Credentials:

High-quality planning and implementation based on fairness that can mitigate against divisive internal conflicts.

--- Resolutions:

Support for viable progressive positions that can draw widening support and contribute to Election Day victories.

--- Budget & Finance:

Solid financial development for a sustained 50-state strategy on the basis of growth and transparency.

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DNC Questionnaire – Ralph Miller (received 5-26-08)

Ralph I. Miller

2 Tamal Vista Lane

Kentfield, CA 94904

h. 415.925.1077 c. 415.250.9500

6^th AD Executive Board Representative

Member, CDP Hispanic and Progressive Caucuses

Board Member, Latinos for America

Candidate Statement:

Progressive government is the cornerstone of progressive change in America.
A progressive Democratic Party will help ensure the long-term survival of the Party and an expansive engagement of grassroots and community leaders in the process of leading our party and our nation. My primary objective in running for election to the Democratic National Committee is to provide an independent progressive voice for the Latino/Hispanic community in setting the course for progressive change in America and selecting our national leadership.

Progressive E-Board Coalition

DNC Candidate Questionnaire

If you are an incumbent DNC member, what have you done as a DNC member to
promote the progressive agenda on the following issues:
a) Ending the US occupation of Iraq

b) Eliminating Poverty

C) Universal Single-Payer Healthcare

D) Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted as cast)
E) Preventing a US attack on Iran
F) Preserving a free and open Internet
G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney

H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration
I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality

If you are not an incumbent, what have you done to address the issues enumerated above?

a) Ending the US occupation of Iraq

I have discussed and written regarding the illegality of the War in Iraq and the disproportionate impact of the War on Hispanic-American communities.
I have marched to Oppose and End the War.

b) Eliminating Poverty

Working with Marin Grassroots Leadership Academy to help train and engage Latinos in the San Rafael, CA, area to formalize their legal status in the USA, engage in vocational training, and participate at the political level.

C) Universal Single-Payer Healthcare

Support, included as topic of training activities.

D) Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted as cast)

Actively supported, campaigned and produced Spanish and English Radio Spots for Debra Bowen’s campaign for Secretary of State.

E) Preventing a US attack on Iran

Strongly oppose pre-emptive action against Iran.

F) Preserving a free and open Internet

Support. Writing blogs.

G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney

Support.

H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration

Support.

I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality

Support equal rights at all levels.

) Promoting public financing of elections

Support. Helped with training in Oregon (Democracy for Oregon), on this
issue and discussed at length with proponents and detractors. I believe public
financing of elections can help bring about increased transparency and
reduced dependence on private interest groups for those seeking office.
K) Abolishing the death penalty

I moved to California 25+ years ago in some part because of our we did not
have the death penalty, then worked on retaining Rose Bird (worked against the
recall). Unfortunately, we lost. I do not believe we have the right to
take any life and there are too many instances where errors have led to wrongful
convictions for me to ever feel comfortable with arguments that attempt to
justify the death penalty on a "tough on crime" basis.

L) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence

Absolutely support, and have also discussed, lectured, and appeared on radio
addressing the issue of nuclear energy as an impractical solution to energy
independence. Renewable energy is the only way to go, but we need to be
careful not to accept any single solution as a panacea. The real solution is a
combination of localized solutions such as wind, solar, etc., as appropriate.

If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent 178-billion dollar war package?

Firmly Against.

How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the leadership's support for war funding?

Building support for opposing the funding with other Members of Congress.

Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who is challenging

an incumbent on the issues?

Yes

Explain.

I worked with the Howard Dean for President Campaign, Jerry McNerney (write-in campaign and vis-à-vis Steve Filson), Charlie Brown (1^st and 2^nd campaigns), and am supporting Mark Leno over incumbent Carole Migden in SD-3.

What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent progressive values on the E-Board? or Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC delegate?

I have a short, but active engagement in Latino/Hispanic organizing and training around the country through Latinos for America, of which I was a co-founder, Latinos for Dean, of which I was California Chair, and Democracy for America, as founding trainer of the DFA Training Academy.

Working through the DNC will not be a new experience for me. As Hispanic Caucus Whip for the Howard Dean for DNC Chair race, I was responsible for culling the endorsement of the caucus to endorse Governor Dean on first ballot.

In my work as 6th AD E-Board Representative to the CDP, I have been a stalwart champion of openness and accountability in the management of the State party's financial and organizational structures.

As one of the lead architects of the California 58-County Plan, recently adopted by the CDP for grassroots engagement, I understand the importance of reaching out to every community and every voter through a strong and locally-focused network of neighborhood and community visibility programs.

Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not?

Yes. I think the Party benefits from a wide and varied representation by members who have demonstrated their commitment, vision and activism to building the Party and engaging voters through the promotion of strong Democratic values. The participation of “Super” delegates in the nomination of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Nominees, however, should be guided by the principle of balanced representation of their constituencies.

Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other candidates running on your slate and what was the process for choosing these candidates to run with you?

Yes, I am running with Mayme Hubert, Mal Burnstein, Karen Bernal and Norman Solomon. Karen, Mayme and Mal are officers of the Progressive Caucus; Norman and I are active members. The process in which I engaged was entirely personal association with each of the others.

What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member?

During the course of the Dean for DNC campaign, I spoke with nearly all the members of the Hispanic Caucus, the California, Texas, New York and delegations from numerous other states, and the national leadership. This experience uniquely prepares me to serve the Latino/Hispanic community on the DNC. I specifically understand the key challenges and important issues affecting Hispanics and Progressives in America. I have several professional acquaintances and friends who are currently serving on the DNC.

As co-founder of Latinos for America in 2004, I trained Spanish-speaking activists and leaders around the country. During the past four years I have nurtured a close association between LFA and Democracy for America. Together, we have been able to extend this engagement to thousands of progressive activists in almost every state of the Union.

On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal goals for each committee?

Rules & Bylaws and Budget & Finance

## ##

Progressive E-Board Coalition

DNC Candidate Questionnaire (received 5/26/08 8:49 PM)

Karen Bernal

24 Riverpebble Ct.

Sacramento, CA 95833

h. 916.359.2151 c. 916.812.1793

j) Promoting public financing of elections

k) Abolishing the death penalty

l) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence

If you are not a DNC incumbent, what have you done to address the issues enumerated above?

a) Ending the US occupation of Iraq –

As a major contributor to the Iraq policy paper the Progressive Caucus released in Spring 2006, I have been consistent and unambiguous in my position regarding the current policy promoted by both political parties. I argued vigorously to have the language of the 2006 Platform amended to include immediate and complete withdrawal. I ran a petition drive at the 2006 State Convention which was so successful that it forced a debate which later proved to be successful for the anti-war activists in the Party. I participated in the longest sit-in of any district Congressional office with other activists to protest the war (52 days straight, 8hr shifts). A strong and ongoing media component was part of the pressure we applied to our Representative. I have organized forums, lectures, protests, marched, called, typed, written, faxed, lobbied and spoken out in protest of this immoral war here in California as well as Texas and Washington DC. When I am not busy doing all I can to stop the madness of our current course, I am doing what I can to help progressive candidates for office, such as Bill Durston for Congress.

b) Eliminating Poverty –

I am a member of the Sacramento Housing Alliance, which advocates for inclusionary housing in the Sacramento area. To truly become a more livable and egalitarian society, America must address housing for everyone in communities: seniors, people with disabilities, emancipated foster youth, others living on fixed incomes and homeless families and individuals. We are currently waging a campaign to get our City Council to adopt an ordinance for inclusionary housing in Sacramento.

c) Universal Single-Payer Healthcare

I am strong advocate for Single Payer Healthcare and have campaigned in the Sacramento area for SB 840, organizing educational events for my local group, Sacramento for Democracy with the office of State Senator Sheila Kuehl, as well as with well known campaigns around the movie SICKO. On the national level, I have participated in Progressive Democrats of America’s “Healthcare Not Warfare” campaign, which is currently part of the platform of those candidates endorsed by the national organization and calls attention to Rep. John Conyer’s bill, H.R. 676.

d) Election Integrity

Since Bush vs. Gore, and the 2004 Elections, I have felt it has been important seeing to it that our voting systems do not become the tools of a powerful few, seeking to usurp the most important right – the right to vote and have it counted as cast. I have attended Secretary of State Hearings with fellow activists, as well as lobbied and rallied in support of those leaders fighting the good fight, as well as in opposition to vendors of systems that have been proven to be unreliable and vulnerable to nefarious tampering.

e-l) While I support all of the causes listed above, I cannot be engaged in each one equally – it’s a matter of capacity. If I am not engaged in a leadership capacity on a particular topic, you can be sure I’m a loyal follower to someone else’s leadership on the issue. Sometimes we have to know when to be in a parade as much as lead one. I can state without hesitation that I have at least been active in helping to organize forums, rallies, films, lectures, events on the queried list of issues, as well as belong to organizations that advocate on behalf of them.

IMPORTANT NOTE – I noticed that Trade Policy with an emphasis on Worker’s Rights was not listed above. I think this is a hugely important topic, for the lack of it is the cause of so much misery in the world today. Since we need to defy the current unmitigated corporate dominance of our governmental affairs (that have no interest in seeing a strong working class), I believe the active support of workers’ rights everywhere, whether we are talking about unions in America, Mexico, Iraq or anywhere else, is an important step in that struggle.

If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent 178-billion dollar war package?

I would have voted exactly like Barbara Lee – NO. The idea that we would come by our benefits on the future graves of soldiers and civilians alike is abhorrent. Any “benefits” amendments, bills or packages need to be considered as stand alone pieces of legislation, not as a part of something fundamentally at odds with the intended benefit of such bills. Approval of the sort of appropriations that have been introduced in the House is still another vote to continue the Iraq War, and worse, could be used to escalate one with Iran.

How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the leadership's support for war funding?

As an organizer with the ILWU (International Longshore and Warehouse Union), I was proud to take part in the 8hr work stoppage that occurred at all West Coast ports in protest of the war, marching and representing my Local in San Francisco that day – I view this as a direct challenge to the ongoing support of the war through funding.

As a Party activist, I am outspoken on the issue and have publicly and strongly rejected the current position of the Leadership at Party Conventions and E-Board meetings. At the 2007 Convention in San Diego, I was at the mike when the infamous Quorum Call came, to prevent an amendment being brought to the floor that would have strengthened Senator Perata’s language to bring the troops home.

Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who is challenging an incumbent on the issues? Explain.

Howard Dean for President, Marcy Winograd for Congress, the censure of Diane Feinstein. I have also supported incumbents when I think they deserved to be helped: Last election cycle, I precinct walked for Lynn Woolsey when insurgent Joe Nation started to build some momentum in the late part of the race. I do not live in Woolsey’s district, but I share her values – that was enough for me to go and help.

What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent progressive values on the E-Board? Or why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC delegate?

Policy is my passion, and my skill set is that of an organizer. While I am comfortable speaking to groups and feel I’ve been able to move and inspire people, my main strength comes from actually engaging in the organizing and mobilizing of people to better effectuate the demands of issues and policies that are important to Progressives.

Officer-at-Large, Progressive Caucus – I believe the purpose of the Caucus is to empower the members of the Caucus. As a leader, I must do all I can to facilitate organizing, lobbying and mobilizing around issues that are important to them. I am aware that while I am giving voice to the concerns of our Caucus, I must always be there to listen. Similarly, I would bring the same sense of service to the DNC.
Organizer, International and Warehouse Union – ILWU’s current project of organizing workers at Blue Diamond (the almond processing plant in Sacramento) is my daily bread and butter, and is augmented by blitzes I am sent on up and down the West Coast ahead of voting by workers at various companies wishing to unionize.
5^th AD E-Board Representative – I continue to encourage local Democrats to get involved with their local Central Committees and outreach on behalf of the Party, as well as emphasize the importance of having substantive dialogue on the most important issues of the day. While it may not be easy at times, our Party will be stronger for it.
Northern California State Coordinator, Progressive Democrats of America – I consider it an honor to be able to be an ambassador for the organization, and while I certainly believe in the “Inside / Outside” approach to a revitalization of our Party, I place a special emphasis on the “Inside” aspect. I believe it is important for Progressives to become as politically knowledgeable and astute as they can possibly be – this requires becoming practiced in the art of politics (working with others to achieve a common goal).

Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not?

To be honest, I am not sure. I believe most super-delegates are dedicated Democrats who take their role in the nominating process seriously. Of course, the course of events in the current Presidential election has caused the process to be examined in a way not seen in a long time. To be sure, no process should be allowed to negate the will of the people as evidenced in primary caucuses and elections. We need to have a comprehensive dialogue on the topic, and if need be, have the courage to make the changes to ensure that our processes are at all times transparent and democratic.

Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other candidates running on your slate and what was the process for choosing these candidates to run with you?

I am on a slate with Mayme Hubert, Mal Burnstein, Ralph Miller and Norman Solomon. Our experiences with one another go back quite a bit and it felt natural for us to run together. Our talents and temperament work well together – we never felt the need to have to ‘vet’ one another. I consider myself lucky to be in the company of people who have demonstrated a selfless commitment to all the things I value as a Progressive.

What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member?

In addition to all of the things enumerated here, another factor is a life history of diversity. While I’ve been an unrepentant peace and social justice activist for over 30 years, a lesser known fact is that I grew up in the military during the Vietnam War in the Far East. My mother is Japanese (WWII survivor) and my father, an Air Force veteran of 28 years (born and raised in L.A.). I was born and schooled on military bases and owe my existence to the fact there was a war. The irony of such a beginning has stayed me always and I cannot help but look at the world in a slightly different way. I believe this experience has allowed me to understand people in a way that goes beyond labels and perceptions – both in life and in politics.

On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal
goals for each committee?

I would like to serve on either the Platform or Resolutions Committee to help advance progressive policies at the national level.

Sincerely and respectfully submitted,

Karen Bernal

5^th AD E-Board Representative

Officer-at-Large, Progressive Caucus

Member, Labor Caucus; Women’s Caucus

Organizer, ILWU

Northern State Coordinator, Progressive Democrats of America

DNC Questionnaire (received 5-26-08 7:58 PM)

Mayme Hubert, member of the Rural Caucus, Officer of the Progressive Caucus

21 Convent Court

San Rafael, CA 94901

h. 415.457.3914 c. 415.497.0661

CDP Region 2 Director

Founder and Secretary Progressive Caucus

Founder and Treasurer of Take Back Red California

Statement: Progressive government promotes the welfare of all the people, not only corporations and the wealthy. Progressive government is transparent which increases access for the governed as well as responsibility and accountability by office holders to their constituents.

Progressive E-Board Coalition

DNC Candidate Questionnaire

If you are an incumbent DNC member, what have you done as a DNC member to
promote the progressive agenda on the following issues:
A) Ending the US occupation of Iraq

B) Eliminating Poverty

C) Universal Single-Payer Healthcare

D) Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted as cast)
E) Preventing a US attack on Iran
F) Preserving a free and open Internet
G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney

H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration
I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality

J) Promoting public financing of elections

K) Abolishing the death penalty

L) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence

If you are not an incumbent, what have you done to address the issues enumerated above?

A) Ending the US occupation of Iraq

I have marched, participated in civil disobedience (arrested), signed petitions, sent letters, emails, and faxes as many of us have. Since 2005, the majority of my work is through Take Back Red California, which I co-founded with John Warren. TBRC has sent funds and volunteers to Democratic Congressional candidates who strongly favor ending the occupation. The candidates in 2006 and again in 2008 are:

Dr. Bill Durston running against Dan Lungren in CD-3
Charlie Brown running against Tom McClintock or Doug Ose in CD-4
Jerry McNerney running against Dean Andahl in CD-ll. Jerry, who beat Richard Pombo, has been a disappointment with regard to Iraq.

B) Eliminating Poverty

As Chair of the Marin County Human Rights Commission I was a leader in the successful Campaign for a Living Wage in Marin County, which the Board of Supervisors passed.

I am keenly interested in developing affordable housing and am a founding member of Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative (2003) which is a mix of environmentalists and affordable housing advocates. We work with cities and the county of Marin to identify sites for green affordable housing and with reluctant neighbors to build community support. Now, more than ever, the most effective environmental dollars are spent on affordable housing.

With respect to issues C) through L) many of these have been the focus of Progressive Caucus programs at E-Boards and Conventions. Our committees have authored position papers on single payer and Iraq withdrawal. The power to achieve these positive goals, and I agree with each one, resides in the US Congress and/or the California Legislature. Single-payer, Election Integrity, Net Neutrality, and a sane foreign policy cannot be realized without a change in the composition of the US Congress. Redirecting California’s resources, public financing of elections and Clean Money, and abolishing the death penalty cannot be realized without a change in the State Legislature. Marriage equality and alternative energy/energy independence are state and federal matters.

I have chosen to spend my time working with Take Back Red California to change the make-up of Congress and the Legislature. TBRC recruits volunteers and raises funds from safe blue counties and districts and directs them to Democratic candidates in red rural counties and districts. The candidates we work with have strong grassroots support. We support Congressional as well as State Senate and Assembly candidates. My activism is directed to developing the organization that provides resources to these rural Democratic candidates as well as work on their campaigns.

TBRC also supports rural Democrats in red counties running for supervisor and other non-partisan offices. It is our belief that activist Democrats and the Party must take the long view and develop candidates as well as the capacity and effectiveness of county central committees so that we can win races in districts which have been written off as un-winnable. TBRC has the same philosophy and intention with respect to California as Howard Dean’s 50-State Strategy.

If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent 178-billion dollar war package?

Against. Lynn Woolsey is my Congress member, and I have unbounded respect for her positions, especially with regard to Iraq.

How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the leadership's support for war funding? Again, sending letters, email, etc. to Members of Congress.

Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who is challenging

an incumbent on the issues? Yes Explain. I am currently supporting Mark Leno over incumbent Carole Migden in SD-3. Carole is a strong progressive, but, until the last few months, her interaction with constituents has been infrequent and grudging. She disregards FPPC reporting regulations and has spent campaign funds inappropriately. She has not used good judgment while driving her car. Mark Leno is a strong progressive also and understands that his constituents reside in Marin and Sonoma Counties and not only in San Francisco.

What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent progressive values on the E-Board? or

Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC delegate?

I have a strong human rights background. I am a founder of the Progressive Caucus and Take Back Red California and a founding member of Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative (affordable housing). I am an effective leader and organizer to get things done and not just talk about them.

CDP Region 2 Director -- The Progressive Caucus of the CDP has a plan for our members to stand for election to County Central Committees, as AD representatives, E-Board representatives, for CDP offices and DNC members. I ran for Regional Director to strengthen the voice of progressive values in the CDP at this level.
A founder and Secretary of the Progressive Caucus of the CDP -- After November 2004 there was a national movement for state Democratic parties to form Progressive Caucuses. In some states activists asked the Party to form Progressive Caucuses. In California, seven individuals did the work of forming the caucus and then applied to the CDP for chartering. Our first meeting, far larger than we expected, was at the LA Convention in April 2005.
Founder and Treasurer of Take Back Red California -- I had been part of the earliest effort to encourage a 58-County Plan for California and witnessed complete disinterest in the CDP for the idea. Then, after November 2004, I borrowed language from Howard Dean and chaired a committee in our new DFA-Marin called Take Back Red California. Shortly, I knew of a similar committee in East Bay for Democracy. We joined forces as the tiny beginning of TBRC, which is very successful in northern California's valley and mountain counties. In 2006, we contributed the maximum to the Congressional candidates, Jerry McNerney, Charlie Brown and Bill Durston and through house parties raised funds going directly to the campaigns.
Founding member of Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative – We are a collaboration between environmentalists and affordable housing advocates that works with cities and the county to identify sites and educate the neighbors about affordable and “work force” housing and build community support.
Co-chair Marin for Dean -- founding member of DFA-Marin -- We organized very successful Meet-Ups and a thorough ground campaign for Governor Dean. We organized a contingent to go to Iowa.
Worked on local campaigns for supervisor, judge, Assembly Representative -- Won the judgeship, but lost the others to less progressive candidates.
County leader in "NO on 209 Campaign" -- Marin and San Francisco defeated Ward Connerly's racist and regressive Proposition.
Former Officer and E-Board Rep for Democratic Central Committee of Marin -- Over the past 18 years I have been active in my central committee as an officer, member or alternate.
Member and Chair of Marin County Human Rights Commission -- Among other projects I led the Commission's investigation and wrote a report on INS raids in the Canal neighborhood in San Rafael.

Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not? No. The concept of a “Council of Party Elders” is profoundly undemocratic. Our democracy is predicated on one person, one vote.

Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other candidates running on your slate and what was the process for choosing these candidates to run with you?

I am running with Karen Bernal and Mal Burnstein, both fellow officers of the Progressive Caucus, with Ralph Miller whom I first knew during the Marin for Dean Campaign and have worked with on reform projects, and with Norman Solomon a friend from Marin County whom I have worked with on DFA/PDA activities. We are like-minded and have personal connections.

What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member? See previous question on qualifications – my experience as an activist during the last 18 years.

On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal
goals for each committee?

In interim years I would like to serve on the Resolutions Committee, pushing the body towards the most progressive positions and language possible.

In convention years I would like to serve on the Platform Committee. The platform of California Democratic Party is most likely as progressive as any in the nation. I would like to incorporate its values and particulars into the national platform.

In addition, I will build support for the 50-State Strategy particularly in the DNC Western Caucus. I am deeply committed to Chairman Dean’s vision of realizing a thoroughly National Party and believe the same concept can be applied to California. We can learn from other states in the Western Caucus where in 2006 52 seats changed from Republican to Democratic. In California only one seat, CD11, changed party. Washington replaced 14 state legislators and Colorado elected a governor, a Congressman, and 6 state legislators.

Other goals:

As Democrats we need to do more to support, value and empower grassroots activists
DNC members would benefit by reporting back on the work of the DNC to the CDP E-Board and State Central Committee and by soliciting involvement.

## ##

Questionnaire from CHRISTOPHER STAMPOLIS, candidate for DNC re-election
(incumbent)
(received 5/27/08 1:46 PM)

If you are an incumbent DNC member, what have you done as a DNC member to
promote the progressive agenda on the following issues:
If you are not a DNC incumbent, what have you done to address the issues enumerated above?

a) Ending the US occupation of Iraq: As a DNC member, I have conducted many
media interviews during this election cycle and previously. I consistently
have stated my opinion that the U.S. should not have occupied Iraq originally
and that our Commander-in-Chief should withdraw our troops from Iraq
expeditiously and safely. I have supported resolutions at a variety of levels to
withdraw our troops from Iraq in a safe, prioritized manner.

b) Eliminating Poverty: As a DNC member, one has the opportunity to
leverage one's role in many ways. I brought many delegates from the 2007 CDC
Convention to walk a hotel picket line with labor leaders such as Maria Elena
Durazo, and I walked as an individual at the picket line next door to the recent
CDP E-Board meeting in Orange County. I advocate strongly that people who
earn large amounts of money should contribute a substantial portion of their
windfall wealth to the common good and I have shared this message at all levels
of government. I oppose regressive taxes that burden low income working
people with heightened financial challenges. As Chair of my City Planning
Commission, I used my DNC experience to advocate successfully for "inclusive
zoning" which put my city of residence on record as requiring a minimum of 10%
developer set asides for affordable housing. I also have a public record of
advocating to protect and expand rent control. I am proud to have leveraged my
national DNC position to gain a majority vote locally for food voucher
offerings to our poorest community college students. Eliminating poverty should be
one of the DNC's top priorities. While the new term of DNC members will
have many challenges in supporting our new Democratic President, we also must be
the advocates to ensure the Democratic Party stands firm in urgently
eliminating poverty.

c) Promoting Universal Single-Payer Healthcare: I support Sheila Kuehl's
Universal Health Care approach and I supported including sessions on this topic
at CDC Conventions that I chaired. I have voted to endorse Universal
Single-Payer Healthcare at local and statewide levels. In the coming term, under a
Democratic President, I will support the DNC advocating for an effective
national healthcare program that will cover all residents of this country.

d) Ensuring Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted
as cast): I personally submitted the resolution that put the DNC on record
in favor of paper ballots. After I submitted the resolution, a number of
national Democratic leaders signed on as co-sponsors and the resolution passed
unanimously. I am very proud that I represented our California Democratic
constituents effectively by leading the DNC to take this official national
stance.

e) Preventing a US attack on Iran: I have met with leaders of
Iranian-American Democratic Clubs across California to encourage their trust in
Democratic Party support for peaceful relations with Iran. This is an issue on
which the new delegation to the Democratic National Committee must stand strong.
Without endorsing terrorism or backing down from our country's support for a
multicultural, peaceful Middle East, the DNC must continue to convey to our
Democratic leadership that we cannot condone provoking Iran or enacting a
preventive strike on Iran.

f) Preserving a free and open Internet: I have a strong history of
supporting a fully free and open Internet and I have advocated for this value at the
local elected level and as a Democratic activist. As a Community College
Trustee, I have voted repeatedly to prevent censorship, to protect free speech
and to advocate for implementation of open meeting laws and the California
Public Records Act. My elected advocacy resulted in posting of electronic
agendas and minutes for many aspects of District activities. With a strong local
elected record on these issues, I have a solid foundation to support my
advocacy as a DNC member for a free and open internet.

g) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney: I continue to support holding
hearings on the extraordinary wrongdoing of both Bush and Cheney, focused on,
but not limited to civil rights violations, war crimes and felonious
contractor misoversight.

h) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not
incarceration: As a DNC member and a locally-elected Community College Trustee, I
have walked the halls of Sacramento many times to protect education funding.
Additionally, as the parent of a Kindergartener, this past year I have served as
President of the School Site Council at my son's school, which is one of the
most diverse in our entire county. We successfully have increased District
funding to the school, and we continue to agitate for more translation
services so parents and teachers can have effective conferences. Advocating for
justice and equity in education is a very high priority for me. In addition to
ensuring adequate funding for elementary and secondary federal educational
grants, I want the DNC to take a strong stand in favor of expanding federal
funding for Pell Grants, higher educational loans and national policies such as
the DREAM Act to provide educational opportunities for all our young people.

i) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality: I consistently
have voted for full LGBT rights and Marriage Equality at the CDP E-Board level
and in my role as a locally-elected community college trustee. I have been a
strong voice on my local Board to preserve and expand full benefits for
domestic partners, and I have led the Board to steer away from arguments that we
should save public funds by reducing domestic partner benefits. As a DNC
member, my vote on LGBT and Marriage Issues is solid.

j) Promoting public financing of elections: I was a highly vocal DNC member
in favor of Proposition 89 when the CDP considered its endorsement. I spoke
on the floor of the CDP E-Board and I helped to shepherd an endorsement of
Proposition 89 through the California Democratic Council to ensure CDC's
endorsement. Public financing of elections is the best way to give grassroots
activists a reasonable opportunity to win elected office. At the national
level, I will continue to lend support to states that are courageous enough to try
new public financing policies.

k) Abolishing the death penalty: I have a lifetime history of fully
opposing the death penalty - uninterrupted from high school days. Prior to my DNC
service, I advocated strongly at the Young Democrats of America national
convention for YDA to oppose the death penalty. That experience trained me to
expect that many Democratic leaders elsewhere in the country unfortunately do
not oppose the death penalty. I am a consistent and solid vote against the
death penalty in all situations and I have engaged in vibrant discussions with
DNC colleagues from other states who disagree.

l) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence: As a Community College
Trustee, I have advocated for our local agency to adopt creative green energy
policies and I continue to support investing in a variety of green energy
opportunities. Here in California, we must stand strong during the scoping
process to support our state's 40-year plan to combat global warming. Most
other states are not as experienced in these issues and they look to California
for leadership. As a two-term vice-chair of the CDP's Environmental Caucus,
I bring a special advocacy to the DNC on environmental issues. I will
continue to partner with other environmental leaders on the DNC to advocate for the
protection of natural resources, land and coast preservation, full funding
of environmental oversight agencies and progressive environmental policies
that invest now for the health of future generations.

If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent
178-billion dollar war package?
I would have voted "no." The funding for future "war packages" should focus
on safely withdrawing U.S. troops, while protecting those troops waiting
for their call to leave.

How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the
leadership's support for war funding?
I have encouraged Democratic clubs across the state to communicate their
frustrations about war funding, in writing, via local resolutions, letters to
the editor and letters to their representatives. I also have assisted with
training about how to set up meetings with Congressional and Legislative staff
so Democratic club representatives learn how to advocate and agitate within
the system, even while bringing forth progressive ideals. I also have worked
with DNC members who share this concern in other states to assist them in
developing and implementing their own local outreach strategies. We need to
train Democratic activists across the country to understand Congressional
decision-making processes, including the complicated bill amendment structure. And,
we need to get Democratic club representatives regularly in the offices of
elected officials and staff, so strong relationships will create the leverage
needed to win on issues like war funding.
Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who is
challenging an incumbent on the issues? Explain.
As President of the California Democratic Council, I ensured that a high
profile challenger to a well-known Democratic Congresswoman received every
courtesy and opportunity to make her case to the CDC, including via excellent
advertising placement in the annual Convention program. I have supported many
Democrats across the state who have challenged incumbents or "institutional
candidates" for a range of local offices, ranging from school board to water
board to city councils. I currently support my wife Anna Song as a candidate
for an open State Assembly seat as I believe Anna is the most progressive
candidate in that race. As a member of the County Board of Education, Anna
consistently has advocated for children with special education needs, including
those with struggling with autism, physical challenges or juvenile
incarceration. She is advocating for strong progressive economic values, including
opposition to regressive taxes and support for increasing taxes on the very
wealthy.

What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent
progressive values on the E-Board? or Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC delegate?

Courage, a solid public voting history and experience. As a strong voice
for local Democratic clubs and grassroots involvement, I bring a unique
advocacy for progressive values to the DNC and the CDP E-Board. My political
background started through community organizing experience in the early 1990s and I
am trained in Alinsky-style advocacy. As a DNC member, I have used my CDP
E-Board position to speak in favor of many progressive issues on the floor of
the CDP E-Board, including strong advocacy for the Party to endorse Public
Financing. I try to live the values of "praxis" - putting one's beliefs into
action. I strive for practical solutions and measurable progress to
implement progressive values.

Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not?

After living the "superdelegate experience" in recent months, I am convinced
the Party does need superdelegates in the Convention process - at least for
the foreseeable future. However, I support slightly reducing the
superdelegate influence by increasing the number of delegates chosen at the local
level.
Then the percentage of total superdelegates will be less than the current
c. 20 percent. About half the states in the country do not provide the
opportunity for a resident to register to vote with a Party. In those states, one
only can register to vote with no Parties listed on the registration forms.
These states require residents to search out political parties on their own
if they desire involvement. Many of these states use caucus systems for their
Presidential primary elections, and many of those caucuses require public
votes. I abhor the concept that one has to vote publicly if one wants to cast
a vote at the most local level for Presidential choice. Can you imagine
what it's like to be required to stand up for your candidate publicly against
your boss, your spouse, your neighbors and your other community members – as
your ONLY method offered to participate in an election? While I will fight
diligently for the DNC to change its guidelines so in the future we count only
presidential primaries or caucuses that offer a secret ballot and the
opportunity to vote absentee, I expect a lot of resistance across the country. One
compromise could be to allow for ranked ballots to retain some of the upside to
Iowa’s “vote for your second-choice” process. Bottom line on “
superdelegates”: Members of Congress, Members of the DNC and folks like Past U.S.
Presidents should have the right to participate and vote at Democratic National
Conventions. If we grow from c. 4400 total delegates to c. 6500 or c. 8000
total delegates, the 800 “superdelegates” will have less of a numerical impact
overall.

Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other
candidates running on your slate and what was the process for choosing these
candidates to run with you?

I am not running on a “slate” of candidates. However, I believe it’s
beneficial to ask any candidate – incumbent or not – “What will you prioritize
during the coming DNC term?”
My priorities for the coming DNC term include working with our California
delegation to deliver:
    *   A DNC member visitation schedule, focused on communities that
rarely see Party officials;
    *   A Congressional and Appointed Official visitation schedule to bring
Democratic officials to “red” communities and Democratic-led hearings to
areas underserved by Democratic electeds;
    *   DNC delegation support for a 4-year funding plan to help our 58
counties meet their needs for year-round presence, whether through facilities for
headquarters or other local priorities;
    *   A expansion of the successful 2005 DNC Listening Tour to take input
on the national chair;
    *   Increased circulation of the DNC Press Democrat, to spread DNC
delegation news widely;
    *   Secret ballots and absentee ballots offered in every 2012 Democratic
primary and caucus throughout the U.S.

What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member?

I have represented California on the DNC for two terms (since 2000). It
takes a while to learn the system and to build effective national
relationships. Prior to my DNC service, I represented California on the national
Young
Democrats board for many years, including service as the Western Regional
Director. I also have served as State President of the California Democratic
Council for three years and CDC State Secretary for five years, in addition to
six years as Chair of the 22nd Assembly District Committee and eight years as a
co-chair of the CDP Voter Services Committee. Additionally, I have 13 years
of service as the Director of "Democratic TV," a widely-commended public
access cable show in Santa Clara County. And as the only locally-elected
education official on the DNC, I bring a unique perspective from local government
to national Democratic advocacy. Serving as an elected Community College
Trustee helps with my networking opportunities at the DNC since I have
opportunities to build on policy discussions about the impacts of federal law with
other DNC members and Congressmembers.

On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal
goals for each committee?

I would like to continue to serve on the DNC Rural Council and to assist
with varied task forces within the DNC Western Caucus. The DNC Rural Council is
at a point where it needs to communicate more publicly with the entire DNC,
and by extension, with Democratic activists across the country. "Rural" is
defined in different ways throughout the U.S., but we generally agree that
community density is one shared criterion. We need to focus our rural
Democratic efforts to work for improved access to quality healthcare, broadband
services, road and utilities maintenance and equitable education offerings, in
addition to strengthening Party infrastructure and elected Democratic presence
throughout non-urban communities. Moving Governor Dean's 50-state strategy
into counties and municipalities across the nation is a high priority for me
over the coming term.

JO OLSON

If you are an incumbent DNC member, what have you done as a DNC member to promote the progressive agenda on the following issues:

a) Ending the US occupation of Iraq – Co-authored the Progressive Caucus position paper entitled “Progressive Policy to Withdraw US Forces from Iraq and to Support the Reconciliation and Reconstruction of the Iraqi Nation;” organized and hosted an “Out of Iraq” forum at the CDP Eboard meeting in 2006; attended multiple war protests including a trip to Crawford, Texas and Washington DC; multiple letters and phone calls to Congressional leaders about immediate withdrawal; attended multiple local protests and vigils; helped craft and support Out of Iraq language for the CDP Platform, and several CDP resolutions

b) Eliminating Poverty – Supported poverty elimination language inclusion in the CDP Platform as a Committee Member; supported the adoption of poverty elimination as one of the Progressive Caucus planks of priority;

c) Universal Single-Payer Healthcare – Authored the Progressive Caucus Position paper on healthcare, crafted language regarding single payer healthcare for inclusion on the CDP Platform, testified on numerous occasions in support of single payer healthcare at the Platform Committee; crafted and got passed a definitive resolution in the CDP in support of single payer healthcare; presented on single payer healthcare at Grand Rounds – Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and the American Medical Women’s Association conference; multiple speaking engagements about single payer healthcare at political and social clubs; attendance at healthcare rallies and fairs; active participant in the SB840 campaign, organized and executed a Single Payer Healthcare Forum at the CDP Eboard in 2006. As a physician, I speak every single day about the necessity of a national health service, a publicly financed healthcare system for California, and America. I will continue to fight for adoption of this type of system regardless of whether or not I am privileged enough to become a DNC member.

D) Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted as cast) – Supported language on the CDP Platform about election integrity; supported inclusion of election integrity as a Progressive Caucus plank of priority; poll watcher 2006

E) Preventing a US attack on Iran – Not enough. I have supported the efforts of others by signing petitions, and writing to Congressional leaders; I supported including this discussion in our Out of Iraq Forum with John Ritter, but there is so much work to be done in this arena, and it is so critical.

F) Preserving a free and open Internet – helped craft the language of the CDP resolution co-authored by the Progressive Caucus and the Labor Caucus;

G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney – I have been in full support of the impeachment of Bush and Cheney for several years, spoken at numerous events about impeachment, participated in signature gathering; crafted language for a resolution calling for impeachment from the CDP that was read at the top of the general session in 2006; built the website for Paul Kortez’ resolution of impeachment; helped write and record the radio commercials with Paul Koretz about AJR39, and continue to support impeachment in any way possible.

H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration – Again, not enough. I have supported the efforts of others on the Platform Committee, and in letters of support to Congressional leaders.

I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality – I have remained an activist for LGBT people mostly in my non-political life. I am a physician in Adolescent Healthcare, and I sub-specialize in youth with HIV, and transgender care. I am constantly advocating for these very underserved young people, helping to find them housing, get proper and thorough healthcare, and helping them stabilize their lives enough to start HIV medications, or in the case of transgender youth, hormone therapy. I have written countless letters to courts on behalf of these young people, and have appeared on 20/20 to increase awareness about gender identity disorder. I also provide healthcare for youth in the GLASS (Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services) group homes who have been largely runaway or throwaway youth. My professional career has included building coalitions with other community groups providing services to LGBT youth. I have the distinct honor and pleasure of being a part of the healthcare community that reaches out to young people without voices to try and improve their lives.

J) Promoting public financing of elections – I was very active in the Clean Money campaign during the time it appeared and was defeated by the CDP in 2006. I spoke out definitively against the “no endorsement” position taken by the CDP, and campaigned for the bill prior to the election. I also supported the adoption of Clean Money as one of the Progressive Caucus priority planks.

K) Abolishing the death penalty – I was one of only six platform committee members who voted to support the inclusion of death penalty abolition on the CDP Platform this year. The Progressive Caucus is hosting a Death Penalty Abolition action meeting at our Caucus meeting in June, 2008.

L) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence – The little amount of work I have done in this arena is indirect, and also related to the Platform. My sister is an environmental lawyer for the State of California (primarily water law, but is currently working on the largest lumber case in California), and has an intimate knowledge of the environmental issues that affect our state most dramatically. I asked her to review the previous CDP Platform on environment, and submit back to me a comprehensive and thoughtful plank. Many of her suggestions were incorporated this year in the plank.

If you are not an incumbent, what have you done to address the issues enumerated above?

If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent 178-billion dollar war package? No more money for this occupation. Period.

How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the leadership's support for war funding? Primarily in the context of the platform, resolutions within the CDP, and by having Out of Iraq forums in which we discuss the dramatic cost of the occupation to humanity.

Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who is challenging an incumbent on the issues?

Yes, Marcy Winograd vs. Jane Harmon and Charles Coleman vs. Howard Berman. Both of these incumbents have repeatedly re-committed their support of the Iraq occupation, and needed reminding that many of their constituents were against it. Also, Marcy and Charles represent progressive values across the board, including support of Clean Money, Single Payer Healthcare, and Election Protection.

What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent progressive values on the E-Board? Or Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC delegate? It is a high class problem to have when so many people who embody progressive values show up at the table to represent so many of us who have felt powerless for so long. I am truly honored in this DNC election to be competing with so many progressives who not only talk the talk, but really put their blood, sweat and tears in to the hard work of organizing required for success. While it is true that I am relatively new to the political scene and the CDP, I have jumped headfirst into it beginning with the presidential campaign in 2003. During the election cycle, I was immersed in grassroots efforts to elect our Democratic candidate, including campaigning in Arizona, Las Vegas and California. I organized several bus trips for SoCal Grassroots, held positions on the EBoard of Valley Grassroots for Democracy and SoCal Grassroots. After the election, I was elected to be a DSCC Delegate for the 42^nd AD, and shortly thereafter became a co-founder of the Progressive Caucus of the CDP. I am currently the co-chair of the Caucus, and have helped to grow the Caucus membership to over 1000 members. Because of my involvement in the grassroots efforts around California and the country on campaigns and issue related matters, I feel I offer grounded perspective, and comprehensive representation for so many grassroots activists within California. I have been appointed to the Platform Committee for four years (two Platform cycles) and feel I have represented progressive minded people well on this Committee. I have advocated for an immediate end to the Iraq occupation, clean money, single payer healthcare, election integrity and abolition of the death penalty consistently on the Platform Committee. But more importantly, I have advocated persistently for these and other progressive issues during my tenure on the Committee, despite the obstacles that arose in getting these issues considered. I have worked on resolutions, meetings, platform planks and forums all within the Democratic Party structure. DNC members must work within the present Party structure, exemplifying good communication skills, integrity of ideas and clarity of expression. I believe I possess all of these qualities, and would represent the values of California progressive Democrats on every occasion.

Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other candidates running on your slate and what was the process for choosing these candidates to run with you? I am running on a slate with Brad Parker, Ahjamu Makalani and Christine Pelosi. I find these people to be great progressives with an incredible breadth of experience, and are reliable hard workers. I also am supporting the slate of Mal Burnstein, Mayme Hubert, Karen Bernal, Ralph Miller and Norman Soloman. These people also are proven progressives and would be tremendous additions to the DNC.

What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member? My experience as a CDP Caucus Co-chair, as a member of the Platform committee, and as a DSCC delegate, as well as my career as a physician make me uniquely fit for a position on the DNC. I have to negotiate daily with patients, colleagues, and insurance companies. Excellent communication is an absolute necessity for physicians, especially in my line of work. I have also proven that I can simultaneously handle a volunteer political career in addition to a full time job as a physician, a mom, and a publisher.

On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal goals for each committee? Healthcare. This is the Committee I would have the most input and passion about. It is imperative that we start designing a national health service now to provide Americans with the proper healthcare they deserve. It is the only sensible and humane solution to solving the healthcare crisis.

DNC Candidate Bob Handy, Region 10 Director of CDP

Progressive E-Board Coalition – DNC Candidate Questionnaire

If you are an incumbent DNC member, what have you done as a DNC member to
promote the progressive agenda on the following issues:

While I am not an incumbent DNC member, I have been working every one of
these issues at the CDP level as Regional Director (Region 10) for seven terms,
and as a long-time (almost 40 years) party activist. Rather than re-list the
issues later in the section for non-incumbents, I will respond to each here
in that context.

A) Ending the US occupation of Iraq
I have met with individual Congresspersons to advocate leaving Iraq as soon
as possible. Additionally I have spent almost full-time working with those
Veterans’ organizations that advocate ending the occupation, including Veterans
for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Viet Nam Veterans Against the War,
Veterans For Common Sense.
I am the Chair of the Veterans Caucus of the CDP, the appointed California
Representative on the Veterans and Military Families Council of the DNC,
Co-Chair of the Santa Barbara Chapter Military Families Speak Out, and am the
National Chair of Veterans United For Truth, Inc., all organizations that
advocate terminating the occupation promptly.
For your information, currently VUFT and Veterans for Common Sense are suing
the Veterans Administration in Federal Court seeking proper and timely
medical care for veterans. The trial phase is completed and a ruling is expected
in early June.

B) Eliminating Poverty,
While I cannot eliminate poverty, I can help those who are in need because
of their poverty. My family owns rental property in Santa Barbara and Ventura
Counties, We rent to low income families at rent considerably lower than the
market would allow, in most cases the average is several hundred dollars
below market. Most of our tenants have been with us for many years, in some cases
over 15 years.

C) Campaigning for Universal Single-Payer Healthcare
I am a long time advocate for Universal, Single-Payer Health Care, both as a
right for all Americans, and as a sound economic policy. I have long
advocated publicly and actively for Sheila Kuehl’s initiatives on universal,
single-payer healthcare, and recently served on a community panel supporting SB 840.

D) Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted as cast
I have advocated personally with Federal, State and County legislators on
ensuring the integrity of the ballot through verified voting. As a member of
the state Platform Committee I was a mover on returning that proposition to the
state party platform in 2004 and strengthening it in 2006 and 2008.

E) Preventing a US attack on Iran
I have lobbied Congress against any attack on Iran by withholding any
funding that the administration could conceivably use for such an irresponsible
act. I have further lobbied for open dialogue with Iran. I have spoken publicly
at protest rallies and meetings against furthering the madness of our current
Middle East/South Asia policy.

F) Preserving a free and open Internet
As one who uses the Internet on a daily basis in support of my charitable
and political interests, I strongly support a free Internet as the last hope
for the public in preserving their 1st Amendment right to free speech and the
free exchange of information. On a practical basis, without the publicly
funded ARPA/DARPA network, there would have been no internet. We paid for it and
it belongs to us.

G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney
I have long supported the impeachment of both Bush and Cheney (look on the
back of my truck for evidence). I do not believe that the current Congress has
the will to proceed with impeachment, but I strongly believe that he crimes
they have committed must not be allowed to pass unpunished. Therefore,
lacking impeachment, I advocate for the DoJ pressing criminal charges against both
of them when they leave office.

H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not
incarceration As the former Chair of the Santa Barbara Police Commission, and as an
advisor to both the California Highway Patrol and Santa Barbara County Sheriff, I
have strongly supported both early intervention and education as preventive
measures. Crippling schools merely ensures that the prisons will be filled as
soon as we build them. Our prison system has been used to incarcerate those who should be treated
in mental facilities, and those who use marijuana recreationally. Rebuilding
our mental hospital system and decriminalizing the recreational use of
marijuana (like alcohol) would eliminate any pressure to expand our present prison
system.

I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality
I have introduced several resolutions to the state party concerning equal
rights, including most recently the rights of all to serve in the military, the
elimination of “Don’t ask don’t tell.”, and the restoration of honorable
discharges to those of the LGBT community who have been unfairly eliminated
from military service with less-than-honorable discharges.

J) Promoting public financing of elections
I support the “Clean Money” idea but there must be concurrent restrictions
on the use of a individual candidate’s own money and on “527s” to level the
playing fields. We must eliminate the idea that “dollars equal free speech”,
and give back to the ordinary candidate the freedom to compete.

K) Abolishing the death penalty
I strongly support abolition of the death penalty. I have attempted to have
abolition as a part of the Criminal Justice Plank (which I co-chair), but
have met with strong opposition from the Committee Chair who cites the
unwillingness of incumbent politicians to support the idea.
Most recently I supported the polling of delegates at the 2008 convention. I
support the release of the report and of the new delegate poll that sits
languishing in the CDP offices in Sacramento.
I am prepared to take this issue to the floor to get it into the CDP
platform and am prepared, if elected to the DNC, to take it to the national level.
A truly democratic state has no business taking the lives of its citizens,
and there is no capital punishment that is not “cruel and unusual” despite
previous court rulings to the contrary.

L) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence
I support finding and promoting alternative energy sources, not just as part
of our obligation to preserve the environment, but also as good national
policy for the economy and for foreign policy.
If you are not an incumbent, what have you done to address the issues
enumerated above?

Please see the responses above

If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent
178-billion dollar war package?
I would have opposed the passage of the package unless it included
prohibition on spreading the war and continuing the occupation.
We need to spend that money to: 1) stop the occupation and get our troops
home; 2) rebuild the damage we have done to Iraq and her people; and 3)
reinvigorate national programs at home in education, welfare, health and many others
that have suffered as a result of this fiasco.

How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the
leadership's support for war funding?
The individual citizen, even an activist like me, has very few weapons to
use in today’s political climate. I have constantly opposed the funding of this
war through the limited avenues available to me, which include my ability as
a long-time and well-known Democratic activist to have direct contact with
many Congresspersons. They hear from me on this subject constantly by
telephone, mail, email and on the floor of our party gatherings

Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who is
challenging an incumbent on the issues? Explain.
Rarely, but I supported Marcy Winograd in her campaign to gain the
endorsement of the state party for her candidacy.

What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent
progressive values on the E-Board?
If progressive values include believing that the purpose of political
organizations is to advance the cause of the general public against special
interests, then I am a progressive.
If progressive values include believing that the nation is strong and secure
only if individuals are strong and secure in their rights, then I am a
progressive.
If progressive values include spending the taxpayers money on programs such
as health and education that advance the individual and community welfare of
those taxpayers, then I am a progressive.
If progressive values include walking softly on the earth as ecological
caretakers rather than as just users and consumers, then I am a progressive.
If progressive values include the view that going to war must be the last of
all possible choices, and that going to war merely to advance American
influence is an insufficient and flawed rationale, then I am a progressive.
If these values make me a progressive, and my history certifies me as an
activist, then my continuing work will be to protect and promote these values.

Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC delegate?.
Just about all candidates for one of the California DNC positions will claim
to be progressives, or liberals, or at least good party servants. I ask all
delegates to examine my record on the issues that are most dear to Democrats
of all stripes, to compare my record with others, and to make their choice.

Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not?
Superdelegates served their purpose as the party transitioned from the old “
smoke-filled back room” type of politics, to the modern party of concerned
activists. They no longer serve any real purpose.
Superdelegates are supposed to represent the “collective wisdom and
experience” of the party, but they often merely represent the entrenched incumbents
of the party and their almost unchanging opinions and policies.
We should not ignore the experience of these people and the insights they
can offer, but elections and nominations should be by the voters, not by
insiders.
Although it is too late now, I would abolish the superdelegate
classification for the 2012 cycle.

Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other
candidates running on your slate and what was the process for choosing these
candidates to run with you?
I am running as an individual, since I believe that “slates” often mix the
good with the not-so-good, and not always in a way that the individual voter
can discern the difference.

What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member?
Almost 40 years as an active Democrat, the past 14 years as Regional
director. See my answers above.

On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal
goals for each committee?
My preferred assignments would be on any one or more of the ad hoc
committees on Veteran, disability, LGBT issues, or on youth-related issues.
All three would present goals that I have concerns about.
Many of our young men and women veterans will be disabled, and how we handle
long-term care for the disabled is a high priority.
The military community is underserved due to their don’t ask don’t tell
policy, and the policy perpetuates discrimination in a fundamental area of
government. The policy must be eliminated.
I have grandchildren and children to whom I would like to leave a better
world by ensuring their education, their universal access to healthcare, and
their enjoyment of a healthy environment.
I would also like to retain my seat as California representative on the
Veterans and Military Families Council, to increase awareness of the problems
facing that group, and to take it from its current nearly inactive and
ineffectual state to one of vibrant and effective activism.

DNC Candidate Questionnaire -

Brad Parker

If you are an incumbent DNC member, what have you done as a DNC member
to promote the progressive agenda on the following issues?

a) Ending the US occupation of Iraq
b) Eliminating Poverty
C) Promoting Universal Single-Payer Healthcare
D) Ensuring Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is
counted as cast)
E) Preventing a US attack on Iran
F) Preserving a free and open Internet
G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney
H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not
incarceration
I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality
J) Promoting public financing of elections
K) Abolishing the death penalty
L) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence

If you are not a DNC incumbent, what have you done to address the
issues enumerated above?

All of the above issues and many more are part of the Progressive
Policy that I have been writing on and speaking to for many years. My
articles that address these and other issues germane to the body
politic can be found on my website at:

http://www.riozen.com/salon2.html

Let me add that I believe that elected leadership should reflect the
membership rather than direct it. From progressives, liberals,
Democrats and across the spectrum of American citizens, there is much
that can be learned by party leaders and elected officials - if they
will take the time to listen. Consent of the governed on these and a
myriad of other issues can best be gained by securing the right to
dissent, a redress of grievances and constant vigilance against top
down control. Facilitation, inclusion and tolerance must become the
bywords of the Progressive, Liberal Democratic Majority.

I have done something on each of these issues. Like most of you, I have
done more on some than others but have supported efforts and continue
to support results on all of them. I have been most active in:

a) Ending the US occupation of Iraq
b) Eliminating Poverty
C) Promoting Universal Single-Payer Healthcare
D) Ensuring Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is
counted as cast)
E) Preventing a US attack on Iran
F) Preserving a free and open Internet
J) Promoting public financing of elections

The organizations I am a member of - listed below - have been active in
holding forums, demonstrations, fundraisers and communications on these
vital issues. I have been a part of all of those efforts. The most
critical issue - other than ending the Iraq occupation - I have worked
on is Net Neutrality. I am a co-author, with Jim Gordon (Chair of the
Labor Caucus) of the Net Neutrality resolution passed by the CDP. This
success - the Labor and Progressive Caucuses working together on a
vital issue - led to the Immigration Town Hall at this years CDP
convention, where several caucuses came together to give voice to the
diversity of opinions in our Party on a fundamental issue. I look
forward to organizing with all of the other groups in the Party in the
future. Building consensus around our principled Progressive policies
will take our best diplomatic efforts both inside and outside the
Party.

If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most
recent 178-billion dollar war package?

I would never have voted for funding this unnecessary war - not before
it began or during it. I would only vote for money to bring all of
troops home now and to rebuild Iraq.

How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the
leadership's support for war funding?

I am an outspoken opponent of the war and a consistent critic of the
Democratic Party electeds who supported this travesty as well as the
Republican criminals in the Executive branch who perpetrated this
debacle. My writing and speaking in opposition is on the record with
the Progressive Caucus, PDA and Valley Democrats United as well as the
DSCC and the LACDP. The expansion of the military-industrial complex
must be stopped.

Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who
is challenging an incumbent on the issues?

Every candidate I have supported is a proponent of Progressive Policy
and deeply involved in the ideological struggle for the soul of the
Party. Opposition to the status quo is best served by vigorous debate,
constant organizing and a flexible mind. I had the honor of speaking on
behalf of Marcy Winograd in 2006 from the floor of the CDP convention.
I reminded the members of their courageous stand against the war in
2005 and demanded that they follow their conscience and not vote to
support a candidate who has consistently voted for the war - Jane
Harman.

What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent
progressive values on the E-Board?

This question is answered in both the first question and in the
experience question below. For the record - there are many members of
the Progressive Caucus running for the DNC and I have complete
confidence that any one of them will represent progressive values as a
member of the DNC in a manner that we can all be proud of. It’s a
Movement - the Progressive Swarm!

Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC
delegate?

Because I have the time, resources and skills to facilitate our
Progressive evolution into the Party at large as we demonstrate what
inclusion can do as an instrument of change.

Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not?

Superdelegates, appointees and ex-officio members in every body of the
Party are used to control voting outcomes in favor of the status quo. I
am a co-author of the Progressive Plan, where we lay out the argument
against this practice in some detail. These offices should be altered
or abolished in favor of more “elected” members and fewer “selected”
members.

Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the
other candidates running on your slate and what was the process for
choosing these candidates to run with you?

I am on two slates. One with Jo Olson, Ahjamu Makalani and Christine
Pelosi and another with all of the members of the Progressive Caucus
who are running. Both were chosen by their support for Progressive
policy. Jo, Ahjamu, Christine and I have been working on many policy
issues together over the last several years including the most
progressive Platform of any Party body in the nation.

What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member?

•    40 years of political action - starting with Vietnam War protests in
Berkeley, California and Austin, Texas, in the 1960’s.
•     Campaign work from precinct walking in Solano County in the 1970’s to
phone banking in Los Angeles County in the 2000’s with a stint in
Tennessee in the 1990’s.
•    Advisor to many candidates - including Al Gore and Tom Hayden.
•    Fundraising for many candidates including Sen. John Edwards.
•    Many years of political leadership including my current offices:
o   Valley Democrats United, President
o     Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, Vice President
o   Progressive Caucus of the CDP, Officer at Large
o    Platform Committee of the CDP
o     DSCC, Delegate, 42nd AD

On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your
personal goals for each committee?

I want to serve on the Platform Committee and make it as Progressive as
the Platform committee of the CDP - on which I serve - has become.

One last thought: the purpose of the DNC is mainly process. All of the
processes of the DNC from committees to primaries must be updated to
better serve the membership and the nation as a whole. Without open,
transparent and accountable processes, any political organization
becomes stagnant and a mere rubber-stamp for the status quo. When the
processes are allowed to breath and connect to the people then the
policies, as embodied in the Platform, will come to address the true
needs of the nation.

As we have reinvigorated the CDP - let us go further together to
reinvigorate the DNC.

E Pluribus Unum

PROGRESSIVE E-BOARD COALITION
DNC CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

BARBIE DEUTCH

1.         Are you an Incumbent DNC Member? Not an incumbent

2.         If you are not an incumbent, what have you done to address the
issues enumerated
above?
a.         Ending the US occupation of Iraq.
Have written and called elected officials to let them know I am opposed to
the occupation. Have urged others to do the same via my a-mail network. Have
met with my Congresswoman
b.         Eliminating Poverty
Have worked on community food drives and helped serve meals on holidays
c.         Universal Single-Payer Health Care
I have been involved in Universal Single-Payer Health Care issue since 1997
when I joined the board of the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Comm. It was
prior to the time that bills supporting this effort had been introduced by
Sheila Kuehl in the legislature.
Universal Health care has been a passion of mine for as long as I can
remember. I have always felt that all people should be able to obtain affordable
and good health care - more as a right than a privilege. When Jackie Speier
introduced SB 265 in early 1999, I called her office and got involved right
away. This was of particular interest to me because I retired in 1998 before
I was 60, so I was not eligible for California Cobra and the insurance
policies for persons with a catastrophic disease were few and very expensive. I
was diagnosed with breast cancer in both 1991 and 1997, so this was quite
important to me. My COBRA payments when I retired were $125/month for a great
policy. When I had to buy my own policy, the cost was $300+/month and it was
quite limited. I testified (first time I had ever done something like this) in
favor of the bill before the Senate Comm. on Insurance and the Assembly
Health Comm. The bill passed and the rates were set in the $425 range, but by
the time I qualified for Medicare at the end of 2005, the premiums were
$928/month and had been that high for quite some time.
I served on our County Human Services Commission for 6 years and was
involved in allocating monies to non-profits in our county, many of which dealt with
heath issues. Currently I serve on the Santa Barbara Foundation’s Health
Grant Making Committee, where we focus totally on allocation of funds to area
non-profits related to health.
d.         Election Integrity
Have spoken with our Registrar of Voters on many occasions and am happy to
report that he is quite progressive and is in favor of a “paper trail.”
e.         Preventing a US attack on Iran
Have signed petitions and written to my elected officials.
f.          Preserving a free and open Internet
I fully support this, but have done anything overtly to ensure this.
g.         Impeaching or Indicting Bush and Cheney
I initially supported Impeachment, but it became clear that the White House
would not comply to Congressional requests for records, etc., so the Congress
would be unable to proceed. I totally support indictments if their illegal
acts could be proved. For those of us who watched the Watergate Hearings
every night until 2 a.m., this episode in our history is much worse!
h.         Redirecting California’s resources to support education, not
incarceration.
I have long supported this, but have done anything overtly to bring it about
i.          Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality
I have actively campaigned all propositions and legislation aimed at
minimizing or eliminating these rights as I have for propositions and legislation
aimed at protecting and enhancing these rights.
k.         Promoting public financing of elections
I feel strongly that the only way we will get away from the “swift boating,”
and other such “weapons” used to demean candidates is to have publicly
financed elections at all levels! Clean money is the only way to go and I have
supported every effort. I still can’t believe that our party refused to back
the proposition sponsored by the Nurses to work toward clean money - allowing
a PAC to dictate to our delegates, i.e., CTA, was shameful!
l.          I strongly oppose the death penalty.
m.        We definitely need to develop alternative energy sources to stop
our dependency of foreign oil. Our party needs to work harder with our
elected officials to meet this goal.

n.         One area that is not mentioned is media reform. I have been
involved peripherally having attended the Media Reform Conference several years
ago and again this year. As many know, our community has been at war with our
local newspaper over the firing of employees in an unjust manner.
2.         If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most
recent 178 billion dollar war package?
I would have voted against it. It is absolutely a disgrace that we spend
billions of
dollars on a war that should never have been waged while the veterans who
fought in
it don’t get proper medical care. This money should be allocated to
eliminating
hunger and poverty in America, improving educational facilities and other
infrastructure, making healthcare available to everyone, etc. The sooner we

withdraw, the better!

3.                  How have you used your activism or Party involvement to
challenge the leadership’s support for war funding.

Happily, our Congresswoman, Lois Capps, has been against the war since the
beginning and I have supported her as she is sometimes criticized by our local
paper. Again, I use e-mails to individuals and various list-serves to inform
people and urge them to action.
4          Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone
who is challenging an incumbent on the issues?
I coordinated both the Bradley and Dean campaigns in Santa Barbara, but have
never had the opportunity to do so on a more local level until Marcy
Winograd ran against Jane Harmon. I had already been writing to Congresswoman
Harman and was delighted to support Marcy!
5.         Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC
delegate?
As someone who sees herself along the lines of, “Some people see things and
ask why, other people see things and ask why not?” I feel that I am just what
they are looking for!   As a member of the SB County Democratic
Central Committee (3 different times - as an appointed member for an elected, as
President of Democratic Women and currently as an elected representative) I
have always questioned the “rules which seem to come down from on high.” As a
consequence, I have gotten into trouble at times, one of the reasons I
decided to run as a Delegate from AD 35. As a result of my (and others’)
activism and speaking out on issues I believe to be unfair or not in our party’s
interest, i.e., the manner in which caucuses were held, and the folly in
supporting Prop. 93, etc, I see that things are changing within our party.
As President of Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County for 2 ½ years, I
brought the membership from 70 to 500 during my tenure. Dem Women became a
player in our community once again and we took strong positions on legislation
and propositions. I spoke before City Council, the Board of Supervisors and
at press conferences to state the case for the cause we were supporting (or
opposed to). My e-mail list has proven to be an amazing tool to energize
folks in Santa Barbara to speak out on the issues - I just make it easy for them.
A major challenge for me was to serve as Program Co-Chair of the 2006 CDC
Convention, held in Santa Clara. We totally reorganized the program, focusing
on participatory general sessions and 24 different workshops in which
attendees could participate. In addition, we provided the only live debate between
the Democratic candidates for lt. governor. We also had a round table
discussion in which most of the candidates for statewide office participated (all
were invited.)
It is really interesting. I have always considered myself to be a liberal
and unlike many folks as they get older, I have become even more so! Process
and transparency are extremely important to me. During the time I have
served on our local central comm. and since I have been a member of the CDP
Central Comm., I have seen many instances where transparency and process have not
been present and am pleased to say that I, along with many, many other
delegates have done a great deal to begin along the path to see that these
philosophies are a part of the CA Dem. Party. I bring the same concerns to the DNC.
When I first ran to be a delegate from the 35th AD, I did it on the
platform of “bringing the people to the party and bringing the party to the
people.”
If elected to the DNC, I will certainly work to make this happen on the
national level as well!
6.         Do your think we should have super delegates? Why or why not?
As for super delegates, I would divide this into two parts. For those who
have been elected to office, both nationally and statewide, I believe that they
should definitely be in a separate category from individuals who may wish to
involve themselves in party activities in a meaningful way and who are
elected locally. That is the way it is done now with respect to the electeds..
What I don’t understand is why members of Congress run to be DNC delegates
when they could easily fall under the “super delegate” category. Elected
officials should not take the place of ordinary citizens.
As for “appointed” super delegates, I am opposed to this practice. It is
very subjective and should not be continued. It appears that the Chair of the
CDP appoints people as super delegates. What criteria is used? Can anyone
apply to be appointed by the Chair? Do other “higher ups” have the ability
to appoint? If elected to the DNC, I will work tirelessly to change this
system so that more grassroots activists have the opportunity to participate.

7.                  Are you running on a slate with other candidates?
I am not running on a slate although I am supported by other progressive
candidates - some openly and some quietly and behind the scenes.
8.         What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member?
In addition to the experience stated above, I also served on the Area Agency
Advisory Committee (Santa Barbara and SLO Counties) for 3 years where we
dealt with a variety of issues involving seniors. We tried to be very
proactive and some of our programs were quite successful!
However, serving as a member of the State Central Committee for almost 4
years and on the Organizational Development Committee for almost two years has
been the best teacher! I think I am a good listener, have been successful in
bringing divergent views together and I look at the big picture, rather than
just the present. I think that is extremely necessary if we are to move our
party along in the 21st century.
9.         On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your
personal goals for each committee?
Believe it or not, I have been unable to find the various committees on the
DNC website! I know there is a committee designed to work with rural areas
of our country because Chris Stampolis is on it. I would think they would
have something like our organizational development committee and I feel I could
be productive on either. However, I know that Rules and Bylaws is not the
committee for me! I am really committed to the 50 state strategy and have seen
what has happened since it has been implemented. It appears that Senator
Obama saw this as well and that is one of the reasons we are hearing that AZ,
CO, and NM are definitely in play for Democrats. I am also committed to
developing a plan that would help grassroots organizations find potential
candidates at all levels and give them excellent training so that they will be better
prepared for the campaign and election process.
I believe there is a committee that works on scheduling the primaries and if
so, I would like to serve on it. While this year’s primary season was
exciting, it did much to cause our party to become divided. Perhaps it had to do
with the two candidates, but more importantly I believe that the schedule
must be changed. I know that the party attempted to bring in more diversity
by scheduling both SC and NV earlier, but then putting so many primaries on
Feb. 5th, did a disservice to the voters in our party since the candidates
really did not have time to campaign in so many of the states. My personal
solution would be to have regional primaries, rotating among the regions every
cycle. We need to ensure that diversity in both voters and state size be
represented in every region. Further, I am not one who believes that IA and NH
should be first all the time. They certainly are not representative of the
voters who comprise the Democratic Party. Lastly, the rules need to be clear:
if a state has an early primary, against the rules, what will happen to them
so we don’t have to witness what happened last week in the Rules Committee.
It was great that the meeting was open to the public and the media, but the 3
hour lunch in which the horse trading took place, made me think of all the
back room deals in the good old days! We need to improve our processes so
they are transparent!
Thank you very much for the opportunity to share my views.
Barbie Deutsch, aka, Blue’s Mom

Progressive E-Board Coalition
DNC Candidate Questionnaire

Henry Vandermeir

If you are an incumbent DNC member, what have you done as a DNC member to
promote the progressive agenda on the following issues:

a) Ending the US occupation of Iraq
b) Eliminating Poverty
C) Universal Single-Payer Healthcare
D) Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted as cast)
E) Preventing a US attack on Iran
F) Preserving a free and open Internet
G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and   Cheney
H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration
I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality
J) Promoting public financing of elections
K) Abolishing the death penalty
L) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence
If you are not an incumbent, what have you done to address the issues
enumerated above?
You mean besides the usual creating/signing of resolutions/petitions, making
phone calls, protesting, helping with campaigns for those elected officials
who will vote correctly on the issues, and joining organizations that support
these goals, all of which I have done? I obviously agree with every issue
listed and have always campaigned and voted for candidates who are progressive
on these issues.
As chair of the Computer & Internet Caucus, we submitted and supported
resolutions concerning Net Neutrality.
I’m also a strong advocate of public financing and was instrumental in
getting several counties to endorse the initiative that was proposed a few years
ago.
If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent
178-billion dollar war package?
NO!   As a military brat, I was born, raised, educated, and married by the
Army so I owe my life to them. The way this administration has treated and
supported the military is appalling and I will do everything I can to protect
the rights of military families while at the same time making sure that their
involvement in conflicts is justified, necessary, and legal.
How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the
leadership's support for war funding?
I have signed countless petitions, joined in protests, backed candidates who
oppose the war and its continued funding, made numerous calls to current
elected officials in both parties, and have voted as a CDP e-board member to
support resolutions to stop the funding of the war.
Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who is
challenging an incumbent on the issues?
I’ve supported a variety of local, state and federal candidates who are/have
run against incumbents who don’t adhere to progressive Democratic ideals
which, obviously, tend to be mostly Republicans. However, I have no problems
challenging Democrats who do not represent their constituency or the basic
Democratic values. That said, I understand that you will rarely find a
candidate who believes in 100% of your ideals, but I believe ‘almost’ any Democrat
will represent a lot more of my ideals/values than any Republican. That’s why
I will always vote Democrat rather than not voting and taking a chance of
letting a Republican win.
What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent
progressive values on the E-Board? Or Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board
vote for you as a DNC delegate?
As president of the California Democratic Council, I have worked hard to
provide tools and services for our Democratic clubs and have succeeded in
resurrecting an organization that had, over the years, virtually fallen into
anonymity. By working together with a variety of progressive organizations such as
PDA, Progressive Majority, TBRC, etc., I have been able to provide Democratic
activists across the state with access to free training, organizational
skills/tools and education on progressive values.
I believe that the party has neglected some of the most basic principles of
organizing and that Democratic organizations like our clubs/counties need
more support than they are currently receiving and that is why I have worked
hard on this aspect. The 50-state strategy is an important step, but doesn’t
penetrate deep enough to really affect the grassroots organizations and
therefore, needs additional work.
Based on my experience, I have seen that there isn’t a single organization
that has the resources to do all the work by themselves. It is my firm belief
that we must all work together and quit worrying about egos and turf if we
are to succeed at a measurable level. To that end, I’ve brought Dr. Bill
Honigman (CA State Coordinator, PDA) on board to CDC as our chair of Issues and
Political Action to help coordinate the issues and platform for grassroots
organizations across the state.
Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not?
I’m mixed on this one. On the one hand, having additional representation in
the form of more ‘experienced’ delegates (congressman, governors, DNC
members, etc.) provides valuable input to the process – especially if those
delegates adhere to our fundamental ideals. However, having the ‘possibility’ of
political insiders change the will of the popular vote is not something I
agree with. I’d have to do more research on exactly how these ‘superdelegates’
affect the party in order to be able to make a more decisive decision as to
whether or not superdelegates should exist.

Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other
candidates running on your slate and what was the process for choosing these
candidates to run with you?
No.   I believe that each candidate should be running for DNC based on their
own merits.   With only 19 seats available for the entire state
(representing 7 million voters), I feel it is important that each DNC member is
evaluated
based on their own achievements, proven leadership abilities, and Democratic
ideals. Our representation should be as varied as our state and not
clustered around certain groups or regions so all areas of the state have some form
of representation.

What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member?
Having been involved with politics for 15 years now, I’ve been through a
variety of training (DFA, Wellstone, etc.) and helped out with several
campaigns.   Specifically, I’ve held the following positions:
President, California Democratic Council (Current)
Chair, CDP Computer & Internet Caucus (Current)
Orange County Central Committee Member (Current)
AD 71 Delegate (Current)
President, Big Bear Valley Democratic Club
Vice Chair, South Orange County Democratic Club
CDP E-Board Member
San Bernardino County Central Committee Member
AD 65 Delegate
AD 73 Delegate
I do not believe in holding titles just for the sake of it, and should I be
elected to the DNC, I will be giving up one or two of my current positions to
concentrate more on that position so that I can represent California
properly and with complete focus.
On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal
goals for each committee?
At this point I have interest in the Resolutions Committee. I feel this
committee has a lot of potential in setting the direction of the party.
I would also like to serve on the Platform committee to ensure that the
party advocates and adheres to the ideals put forth by our Democratic
constituents.
Personally, I’d like to bring the voice of the grassroots to the table,
something I believe to have been missing for quite some time. I continually
struggle with good folks on the progressive side who are angry with the party and
therefore want to leave it. I always say that if you’re angry with the
party, don’t leave it but instead stay and fight to become a voice for those who
feel they don’t currently have one. That’s what I intend to do with my
vote on the DNC – be a voice for the grassroots in this state.

Ed Espinoza

Answers to Questionnaire:

As a DNC member, our work is largely political - not legislative. So while
we advocate for issues within the DNC the real work of reform is done through
using our role to influence other organizations, legislation, and most of
all - shape public opinion.

Iraq: I have opposed the occupation of Iraq and in 2007 I dropped what I was
doing and went to work for Gov. Bill Richardson - the only candidate
advocating for a full withdrawal from Iraq. While we have all supported different
candidates in this process, committing my time, my job, and essentially my
life to a candidate who was committed to bringing the troops home was the
biggest commitment I could make. For nearly a year I worked as a senior staff
member to push this issue and have it resonate throughout the entire campaign
with all candidates. It was hard to believe that, even in 2008, some were
saying that this was a crazy idea.

Poverty & Healthcare: I have supported resolutions advocating for the
improvement of health and living standards for the poor. During the 2006 DNC
meeting in New Orleans, I scheduled extra days into my trip to help refurbish
homes damaged by Katrina. Through my work I have also offered strategic counsel
to the United Nations Foundation to ensure that we not only end poverty and
bring healthcare to every American, but to every citizen of the world.

Iran: One of the most significant things Senator Obama has said in this
campaign is that we must talk to our enemies. If Nixon was able to sit down
China, if FDR was able to sit down with the Russians at the end of WWII knowing
full well that the Cold War was the next big threat, then it is logical that
we should be speaking with our enemies now. Through the media, in editorials
and in Democratic circles, I have encouraged members of our Party to stand up
against the Cowboy Diplomacy of the Bush administration and be willing to
bring intellectual honesty back into our diplomatic processes.

Impeachment: I have called for immediate investigations into Bush
administration incidents such as the false premise that took us into war, and for a
release of notes from Cheney's energy policy bill which resulted in California's
energy crisis. While I am pleased to see an investigation into the
disgraceful treatment towards Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson, as well as the firing for
Alberto Gonzales for firing US Attorneys, I also believe that there is more
we should be doing.

California resources: our prisons are way too stacked with non-violent drug
offenders. We need to direct money to our schools in order to educate our
kids so that they don't end up in jail in the first place! I have also
proposed the idea of a "Prop. 13" for college tuition, which means that when a
student and a college enter into an agreement, that the terms of the tuition
remain the same for the first four years. In other words, the state shouldn't be
allowed to change the rules in the middle of the game after students and
families have made picked a college in part based on their family budget
capabilities. The state needs to help - this is the kind of thing that government is
intended for!

LGBT rights: I am strong supporter of Gay Rights and have participated in
many issues supporting gay marriage, and working to defeat right-wing ballot
initiatives in California (1998 - the Knight Initiative), Oregon (2004) and in
Arizona (2006). I have donated money to gay candidates and have a good
relationship with the national Human Rights Campaign office.

Insurgent candidates: Well, Bill Richardson was definitely and
unconventional horse to hitch my trailer to! But in the end my commitment was to
the man
AND his issues which is something I'm proud to have done. I also supported
Rep. Hidla Solis when she ran against incumbent Marty Martinez, as well as
local candidates in my hometown of Long Beach (Dan Baker, who was a gay city
councilmember and took on the incumbent mayor). And I helped organize district
level caucuses for a guy named Howard Dean in 2004!

Committees: As a political and not a legislative body, there are actually
very few committees within the DNC. However, upon my arrival in 2004 - I was
the rare freshman member who scheduled time to go to the DNC office in
Washington and sit down and ask to be on a committee, to be involved, to help out in
some way. There was one vacant seat on the Committee to Study Presidential
Scheduling and Timing, and I was denied. But I didn't let that stop me - in
other words, I did not take "no" for an answer. I continued to follow the
issue attend the meetings and advocated for pushing western states up in the
calendar. Shortly after that, maybe it was because he saw my determination,
Gov. Dean asked me to Chair the DNC Youth Council. For two years I helped
build a program to bring more young people into the Party.

In the next term, I will use my experience to continue advocating for
changing the presidential primary process and I will seek a position on the Rules
committee.

Fair Elections: The DNC has a Vice Chair for Voting Rights, and each time I
was alerted to a voting rights issue I made sure to also alert the Voting
Rights center. In addition, I have worked with campaigns in 10 states to ensure
that their voting systems are fair, accurate and accountable.

ANDREW LACHMAN

If you are an incumbent DNC member, what have you done as a DNC member to

promote the progressive agenda on the following issues:

a) Ending the US occupation of Iraq – Supported CDP Resolutions opposing Iraq War since 2003, attended marches, took part in discussions with member of Congress about alternatives to end the war.

b) Eliminating Poverty –

Lobbied to oppose state cuts in services for the poor, supported efforts to organize to address roots of poverty.

c) Promoting Universal Single-Payer Healthcare – Member of HCFA, As Corresponding Secretary and Political Action Co-Chair for DPSFV wrote letters to legislators in support of Keuhl’s universal single payer legislation.

d) Ensuring Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted as cast)

Worked as election protection volunteer in 2003, 2004 elections, Worked with Bowen Campaign to have special “election protection for Bowen” nights at our West LA Campaign Office. Tipped off Michael Jay regarding legislative hearings on “Double Bubble” LA County Elections in 2008

e) Preventing a US attack on Iran. Wrote op-ed in Jewish Journal on ways Progressives and Jews could work together to propose ways to engage Iran with diplomacy, economic and diplomatic pressure and opposing military action and saber rattling.

f) Preserving a free and open Internet – Have supported Net Neutrality resolutions in SoCal Grassroots Steering Committee. Opposed tiered Internet access while serving on Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Board.

g) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney. I support an indictment after they leave office, as impeachment will not happen with 6 months left. There is little question in my mind that this administration has broken the law repeatedly. The sooner we can move into a new Democratic administration that will hold the previous one accountable the more success we will have in making the change we desire to see in our world.

h) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration. I have been active in my community to ensure that we fund education on all levels to the highest level possible, including opposing using Fairfax High School resources for charter schools because it takes resources away from our public schools.

i) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality. I was co-founder of the Stonewall Young Democrats and served as legislative director of Stonewall Dem Club. I worked with Equality California to encourage our members to support Marriage Equality at every turn and spoke in favor of the resolution by DPSFV to oppose any candidate who does not favor marriage equality. Marriage equality is only a portion of the concerns of the LGBTI community. Discrimination is still rampant and greater effort is needed in our schools to protect LGBTI youth and incorporate diversity acceptance into school curricula.

j) Promoting public financing of elections. My Neighborhood Council (which I am chair of) will be hosting a forum on LA Clean Money. I have committed to work with Wayne Williams to open a dialogue between groups to find common ground to support a clean money proposal that labor, the party and Clean Money advocates can agree on. If we don’t make clean money a coalition building activity, it will not happen.

k) Abolishing the death penalty. I have serious reservations about the application and use of the death penalty in its current form.

l) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence. This is an area where we can all put policy into practice in our personal lives, including buying alternative energy vehicles (I have a Prius), using energy efficient light bulbs, etc. Of course there are other things we can do on a larger scale, such as supporting CLCV, Sierra Club (I am a member of both) and other organizations in organized efforts to protect our environment and invest in alternative energy sources to get us off our dependence on oil.

If you are not a DNC incumbent, what have you done to address the issues enumerated above?

If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent 178-billion dollar war package? Our time for funding a war with no exit strategy and no accountability has come to an end. We can not keep funding a war without accountability or without dedicating resources (as Congressman McGovern has suggested) to planning and completing our withdrawal so that McCain’s prediction of a 100-year war does not come true.

How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the leadership's support for war funding? My focus has been to encourage those who insist on voting for funding to find ideas to get out of Iraq instead of just supporting the status quo. If one idea does not work for them, ask what alternative they can suggest.

Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who is challenging an incumbent on the issues? Explain.

I supported Hilda Solis when she ran against, and defeated Matty Martinez, a pro-gun, conservative Democrat in a district that was far more liberal. I support candidates that are interested in taking Progressive values and broadening them to include others.

What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent progressive values on the E-Board? or Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC delegate? Here is a brief sample of my experience:

CDP Experience

Co-Chair, Credentials Committee ‘07-

Chair – Dem. Neighbors of the 42^nd AD ’07-

41^st, 42nd AD E-Board Rep. ’01-’03, ’05-‘07

Alternate. LA Co. DCC for U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman, Bill Rankin ’00-’02, ’06-

Cal. Dem. Central Committee ‘01-

Past Speaker on club fundraising, outreach, precinct organizing at CDP Dem Training, CDC Convention, interfaith outreach and regional training sessions.

Grassroots Experience

SoCal Grassroots Steering Cmte. ‘06-‘08

LA Grassroots for Clark, Kerry

President, Democrats for Israel LA ‘05-

Leg. Dir. – Stonewall Dem Club ‘05-‘07

Corr. Sec’y – Dem. Party of the San Fern. Valley ‘05-07

Co-Founder, Stonewall Young Dems ‘04

State Parliamentarian Cal. Young Dems ‘01-‘04

President, San Fern. Valley Young Dems ‘01-‘04

Campaign Experience

Lead Organizer –CDP Coord. Campaign ‘06

PA Dep. St. Constituency Dir. – Kerry/Edwards

Gore, Kerry Nat’l Convention Delegate

Election Protection Volunteer

DNC Intern 1993

Other Experience

Jewish Labor Committee Board

TechNet

Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Board

Anti-Defamation League Salvin Leadership Prog.

Fundraiser – Herring Run M.S. Health Clinic

Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not?

I have reservations about lack of accountability. There is no easy answer here. The “superdelegates” still have a responsibility to listen to their constituents before committing, even though they have some latitude in personal judgment. Congressmembers, governors and even elected DNC members always have someone to answer to and should take their positions into account before committing to anyone. That being said, I think having Superdelegates opens the door for new people to get involved and run for delegate at other levels. The Republican Party has no superdelegates, but these people then get appointed to all the regular delegate slots instead.

Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other candidates running on your slate and what was the process for choosing these candidates to run with you? No, at this time I am not running on any slate. I am supporting those incumbents who have done an exceptional job of reaching out beyond geographical and constituent borders to inform and seek the input of other party activists, such as Garry Shay and Aleita Huguenin and those challengers who are committed to increasing inclusion and outreach. I have the support of some elected DNC members such as Aleita Huguenin and John Perez, but I also have very strong support amongst Progressive Caucus members including Tom Mullens, Mark Briggs and Kevin Lynn and many others.

What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member?

I have worked my way from being a DNC intern and California Young Democrat officer to being a CDP Committee Co-Chair. I have experience as a grassroots activist, including serving on the SoCal Grassroots Steering Committee and working on campaigns on a national, state and local level. I have worked to increase voter participation amongst youth and minorities and I have a history of working with different groups and bringing them together.

I’d like to take a moment to discuss party-building and how the DNC works.

The DNC does not draft the platform or move policy like the CDP does. The Platform is written by a separate body and only during the National Convention every 4 years. The DNC rarely passes resolutions or has any input as to on what races money is spent on, but rather on broad programs such as outreach and legal support for candidates whose elections are very close.

Endorsements are not done by the DNC either, but rather by state parties or the national convention.

The DNC’s focus is on party building such as investing in Dean’s 50 state strategy and investing in technology and outreach.

The important question is: how are we going to build our party to win more elections, especially in rural and suburban. Issues are a part of it, but so is bringing party activists together and making sure they have a voice, and making sure that our DNC delegation listens.

Being a Progressive should is about being a consistent advocate for the values of equality, inclusion, justice, opportunity and a secure peace. While there is some agreement on issues, only by thinking outside the box and finding common ground to work with other groups such as labor, LGBTI, youth and minorities (including supporting their efforts as much as our own) will we find success.

On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal goals for each committee?

I would like to serve on the Budget & Finance or Rules/Bylaws Committee, but not all members of the DNC serve on committees.

Here are my goals if I am elected to the DNC:

Fixing our primary system
Investing in new technologies to improve voter targeting and grassroots organizing/communications
Working with the Rural Caucus, Take Back Red California, SoCal Grassroots and other “red to blue” groups to raise money to invest in rural and exurban organizing to build strong Democratic organizations where we need it most.
Investing in outreach to our rapidly growing Latino, Asian Pacific Islander and youth communities
Bringing our grassroots activists and establishment party leadership together
Supporting policies that protect voting rights as well as support working families, LGBTI rights, gender equality, universal health care, civil rights and liberties and protect our environment.

If you want a DNC member who will reach out and listen to prioritize your needs, issues and concerns, cast one of your 19 votes to Andrew Lachman for Democratic National Committeeman.

ALEITA HUGUENIN

Progressive E-Board Coalition

DNC Candidate Questionnaire from Aleita Huguenin

If you are an incumbent DNC member, what have you done as a DNC member to
promote the progressive agenda on the following issues:

a) Ending the US occupation of Iraq-
My anti- war days began with Vietnam and continue until this day. The only
element not in this action is the involuntary draft of young citizens for old
men’s wars. I strongly believe that we (the American people and Congress) we
systematically lied to about the intelligence, the threat (Weapons of Mass
Destruction etc.) and we lied to the world. (See UN statements by Colin Powell) As will
happen in a democracy the “truth” will come to the surface and we welcome
all who join us in getting out of this mess as soon as possible.
We have literally spent our children’s future on this war.

b) Eliminating Poverty-
I guess the most important thing I work on that effects this area is
supporting groups that work in this field and I work tirelessly to keep our public
schools funded and staffed to accommodate all students. Education is in the
long run the way out of poverty.

C) Promoting Universal Single-Payer Healthcare
We have worked hard to see this day come. I cannot tell you how hard we have
worked to even get the Healthy Family program easy to sign up for in our
schools. We must dedicate the funds to make this happen—we should have the same
plan as Congress and we should make it a right not a privilege. The best
thing about the Democratic Primary this year was the discussions among our great
candidates on how to move this goal into policy.

D) Ensuring Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted
as cast)
I have not directly participated in the count in Florida etc.
I have attended many hearings at the Sec. of State’s office and talked to
many of our county clerks about this issue. I find that in the Western States
we have a huge variety of vote counting methods. All of them are under the
microscope and all of them are trying to move to the most secure systems
possible.
-- Bigger issue is how do we assure that all eligible voters get to vote?
Who are being “purged” from the roles and what are the criteria?

F) Preserving a free and open Internet

I have supported all efforts in this area. While I am not an expert I know
value when I see it. I don’t want this wonderful communication system
destroyed! The internet is like our modern day version of the Federalist Papers!
(True you have to be very careful about the validity of some stuff but the
freedom of communication is great!

G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney
I worked for Congressman Jerry Waldie when he brought articles of
Impeachment against Richard Nixon (over the un-authorized bombing of Hanoi). I know
how much effort this sort of path takes. We were lucky that the Butterfield
tapes and other items came out and the Senate was able to proceed with other
charges. We never got that sort of break with this administration. I am so disgusted
that after it is too late Bush’s own press secretary now blabs that we were
all correct. What a hero!

H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not
incarceration

This has been one of my goals for 45+ years. Look at my record. It is a core
value.

I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality
Again- this has been a value before it was a fad. I am pleased that it is
finally going to happen. We must, however, defeat the measure on the November
ballot . That is why I am going to be working on the measure with the firm who
has been hired to run the campaign.

J) Promoting public financing of elections-
I don’t yet think anyone has come up with a realistic formula on the funding
of this measure. The rich will always have an advantage—the Courts have
already given that to them at a National level. We have another cycle coming and
perhaps the language will come that will implement the dream.

K) Abolishing the death penalty
—I have never believed in the death penalty.

L) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence
I have been a strong advocate of this topic for years. I have family members
who work on nuclear power in Europe. They have an interesting view on this
topic that is not allowed to be discussed in the U. I have friends interested
and informative on wave energy. I am open to anything that doesn’t continue
to rape our earth and poison our world.
I have solar for my home; I drive a hybrid car,

If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent
178-billion dollar war package?
NO. But I would have found it hard not to support our troops with food,
equipment and things needed to keep them alive until they are brought home. We
must get a larger majority of Democrats in both Houses of the Congress to help
stop this nonsense and bring our troops and National Guard home.
What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent
progressive values on the E-Board?
See above.

Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC delegate?.

I have been in the front of getting Howard Dean to be the chair of the NC. I
worked to get the first forum (Sacramento) to challenge the assumed chair by
the DNC beltway guys. Our support of him at that point was the cutting edge
of breaking through a barrier that made it possible to get him elected and to
get the Democratic Party to realize that the DC beltway look at our country
was just wrong.

I worked with the Western States to make this plan not a dream but a
reality. We have made huge gains in the west—we defied the beltway folks and while
their targeted candidates faltered our 50 State Strategy folks won and we
began to take back Congress and our Country. The dream is alive and we push on
now to elect a President and end this nightmare. No one is going to be left
behind!

Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not?
Yes—I think that having people who are not just elected from states and
afternoon caucus meetings benefit from the advice and knowledge of people who
have had to run campaigns and be around through many battles in their states.
If we were to eliminate them then they would just run at the district
caucuses and win most of the seats because of name recognition etc.

Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other
candidates running on your slate and what was the process for choosing these
candidates to run with you?
The incumbent DNC females decided to run as a group. We have worked hard, we
are very active and they deserve another term. I personally believe,
however, that elected members of Congress have many ways to get on the DNC and that
slots should be left open for regular active members as they have no other
way to participate.

What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member?

On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal
goals for each committee?

I am on the Executive Committee by a vote of all the DNC members in the
Western States, (Guam, American Somoa and Democrats Abroad). They thought I was
the best of the west to be on the Executive Committee and vote for them and
their issues. I take their trust and support very seriously.

## ##

Christine Pelosi

Progressive E-Board Coalition:

DNC Candidate Questionnaire

If you are an incumbent DNC member, what have you done as a DNC member to
promote the progressive agenda on the following issues?

Nearly every issue on your list - and many NOT on you list (such as Immigration,
Energy & Environment, Reproductive Choice), are in the Platform. As the Chair I
help craft and debate and therefore stand by each and every word. The work is
shared by leaders on the Committee and in the California Democratic Party caucuses
and local clubs, so they should ALL be praised and incorporated by reference. In
addition I reference specific community or professional work on the issues. With
each segment in our Platform, I raise the language at our national and regional DNC
meetings, particularly at the DNC Resolutions committee on which I serve and at the
DNC Veterans & Military Families Council which I co-founded (via unanimous DNC
resolution) at the start of Governor Dean’s term in 2005.

a) Ending the US occupation of Iraq

Marched, petitioned, & campaigned for candidates who opposed the war then and
support safe & orderly withdrawal now. The CDP Platform has extensive language on
this topic added in 2004, enhanced in 2006, and improved in 2008 adding that “we
support the repeal of the 2002 Authorization to Use Military Force in Iraq; oppose
further appropriations except those necessary for a safe and orderly withdrawal of
our troops from Iraq to begin without delay; and call for an international
conference to implement a cease-fire in Iraq.”
www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.1194161/k.D3E/World_Peace_and_International_Relations.htm
I am confident that President Barack Obama will end the war and care for aour
troops and will work my heart out for him to that end.

b) Eliminating Poverty

Worked at the US Department of Housing & Urban Development during the Clinton-Gore
administration;
served as an 8 year board member of Legal Services for Children assisting low
income children in the dependency, delinquency & immigration courts to help them
help cope with poverty, neglect & abuse; worked with many indigent victims of
sexual assault & child abuse as a deputy prosecutor in San Francisco; promoted the
New Direction for America agenda that included an increase in the minimum wage,
expanded children’s health care; college tuition aid, veterans benefits and
protecting social security; and promote the Platform stand enhanced by on
promoting economic justice, living wages and fair tax policy:
www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.1193755/k.7DDA/Labor_Economic_Justice_and_Poverty_Elimination.htm
I would also mention Immigration here, because I think we need to view
comprehensive immigration reform in light of national security, civil rights,
worker’s wages, and family reunification, all of which disproportionately affect
the poor.

C) Universal Single-Payer Healthcare

Promoted initiative work in the 1990s on this issue. Platform Language supporting
single payer was passed in 206 and enhanced in 2008:
http://www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.1193731/k.80F8/Health_Care.htm

You did not ask about the environment, but I think the health of our planet and
the fight to reverse global warming is a huge health issue so I will put it here.
I have worked with a number of environmental causes over the years to promote
health care in the spirit of Rachel Carson (author of Silent Spring) – I march in
the Susan G. Komen walk “for all of Rachel’s daughters” because we are each
affected by the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. To that
end, our Energy & Environment Plank:
www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.1193595/k.965/Energy__Environment.htm

Also, you did not mention reproductive choice but I have worked with Planned
Parenthood, NARAL, CARAL, and the ”No” coalitions fighting the restrictions on
young women’s reproductive health needs as well as groups fighting the spread of
HIV/AIDS. Again, please see the Health plank for a complete list of issues and
causes. http://www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.1193731/k.80F8/Health_Care.htm

D) Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted as cast)

Co-sponsored the DNC Voter Protection Resolution & worked with Progressive
Democrats of America and other allies to ensure its passage. Advocate Election
Protection teams in each of my boot camps. Also - a word here for clean money,
which you did not specifically mention, but it goes to election integrity because
clean money campaigns will liberate us from the endless fundraising. Signed the
Clean Money petition and worked on the unsuccessful Prop 89 as well as inclusion
of Clean Money in our Platform and each of my boot camp trainings. Platform
language on both topics may be found here:
www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.1193757/k.A452/Political_Reform.htm

E) Preventing a US attack on Iran

Supported CDP resolutions to that effect. Also see the Iraq War language from the
world peace segment of the Platform – if we withdraw our troops safely, honorably,
and soon from Iraq, we will reduce tension in the Middle East.
www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.1194161/k.D3E/World_Peace_and_International_Relations.htm

F) Preserving a free and open Internet

As a blogger, I discuss this topic in my boot camps and supported including it as
part of new Platform plank in 2008. Here is the link to the new Internet, Free
Speech & Communications plank: http://www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.4122341/

G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney

Impeachment is too good for them. Indicting is possible following an
investigation, such as the sort proposed in the Proclamation I supported at the
2006 state convention. My preference is indictment through an independent counsel
which will have to peel back the curtain on years of corruption.

H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration

As a longtime supporter of San Francisco’s Delancey Street Foundation (a
residential rehabilitation facility next door to my home), I think there is much
to be gained from a corrections community that teaches redemption and real-world
job skills rather than locking people up and throwing away the key to an
overcrowded non-rehabilitative prison cell. I supported various efforts over the
years to provide drug and mental health services as alternatives to incarceration
for nonviolent offenders.
Again the 2008 Platform addresses this with new language:
http://www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.1192605/k.A535/Criminal_Justice.htm

I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality

One of the highlights of this 2008 Platform is the inclusion at long last with
much hard work our party’s commitment to LBGT right to include marriage equality:
http://www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.1193709/k.7470/Equality_of_Opportunity.htm

If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent
178-billion dollar war package?

I would have voted against authorizing force in Iraq, against the war funding for
purposes aside from an immediate safe and orderly withdrawal, and for health and
education benefits for our troops and veterans, including the GI Bill of Right for
the 21st Century. I think most Americans separate the war from the warrior - we
abhor this horrible war and respect our troops and veterans.

How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the leadership's
support for war funding?
Daily. By working for a Democratic President & working majority in Congress, I
challenge "the leadership" of George W. Bush and the Senators who protect his desk
with their unwillingness to even allow debate on bills passed by the House that
would fund only a safe and orderly withdrawal with a specified timeline. After
Bush's first veto, the Senate has obstructed any progress, which is why we need a
Democratic President and firm majority in the Senate.

Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who is
challenging an incumbent on the issues? Explain.

Yes. Through my lifelong volunteering I have worked with dozens of insurgent
candidates across America - most proudly, Nancy Pelosi for Congress in 1987 and
for House Whip in 2001 and leader in 2002 against entrenched opponents with
institutional support (but ultimately fewer votes). With the campaign boot camps
I've run since 2005 with hundreds of candidates for office from county committee
to Congress, my goal is to help "marginal" races become competitive.

   What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent progressive
values on the E-Board? or Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you
as a DNC delegate?.

During the past four years, I have logged thousands of miles traveling to dozens
of DNC meetings and campaigning with hundreds of candidates from County Committee
to Congress in order to advance our Democratic values and develop winning
strategies with our grassroots and netroots allies.   I believe progressives
should vote for me because of my work with California Democrats that highlights
progressive values and action during my 2004-2008 term on the DNC, including:
MANAGEMENT: Organizing Campaign Boot Camp trainings for dozens of candidates and
thousands of volunteers engaged in public service to help usher in a new
generation of grassroots and netroots leadership and to promote open-source
activism within our Party.
MESSAGE: As CA Platform Chair and DNC Resolutions Committeewoman, helping build
policy coalitions to elevate economic justice, energy independence, equality of
opportunity, and election protection. Appearing on blogs, radio, and television to
communicate our core Democratic values:
   ECONOMIC JUSTICE: living wages, universal health care, mental health parity, stem
cell research, reproductive freedom, quality education, affordable college,
decent housing, retirement security, corporate social responsibility, and tax
policy that honors work over wealth
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE: environmental protection, green collar jobs, and renewable
energy investments to reverse global warming and lessen U.S. dependence on Middle
East oil
EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY: housing, education, employment, and marriage equality for
all regardless of race, nationality, age, disability, gender, gender identity or
sexual orientation
ELECTION PROTECTION: voter registration, education & mobilization efforts,
Internet neutrality, mechanisms to count every vote as cast, clean money
campaigns, public integrity databases for donors and lobbyists to promote open
government and transformational politics
MONEY: Participating in friend-raising and fund-raising efforts for Democrats as
well as for emerging candidates and grassroots allies, with a special emphasis on
online giving.
MOBILIZATION: Active co-founder of the DNC Veterans and Military Families Council
helping elect Fighting Dems to office and working with grassroots efforts to
promote national security & civil liberties, bring our troops home from Iraq, and
honor our heroes with healthcare & a 21st Century GI Bill of Rights. Walking the
precincts, calling on the phone banks, and blogging in competitive districts
across our state and country as part of the drumbeat for a new direction for
America.

Q. Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not?

As one who pledged my superdelegate vote to the winner of the popular delegates in
February 2008, I think the focus should always be on the American people. I

DNC members and elected officials should attend the Convention and participate in
the Platform (so everyone agrees to and votes on the tenets of our party) and
organizes for fall GOTV efforts. I want all the party together so that people don't
self-exempt and decide that because hey weren't there, they don't have to support
the nominee or the issue we work so hard to elevate to the Platform. It is a party
nomination after all so we should be accountable to each other.

If we decrease the number and weight of superdelegate votes, they'd reflect a
smaller percentage of the electorate and the focus remains on the American people.
The reforms I propose are: less and less weighted superdelegate votes, the American
Plan (going from small to large states - which the California Democratic Party has
endorsed). We need a small-to-large states calendar we can count on; a vote by
mail component for the caucuses, and a Presidential nominee and Platform validated
by our party and public officials at Convention.

Q. Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other
candidates running on your slate and what was the process for choosing these
candidates to run with you?

Yes, I am running with 2 slates:

1. DNC women incumbents who decided to endorse each other based upon the work we
do together attending the meetings, elevating the issues, and helping elect the
candidates. That list is (in alpha order):   Rachel Binah, Mary Ellen Early,
Inola Henry, Aleita Huguenin, Alice Huffman, (myself, Alicia Wang, Maxine Waters,
& Rosalind Wyman.


2. Progressive activists Brad Parker, Jo Olson, Ahjamu Makalani & I are running
together to bring the consensus and coalition building teamwork we developed
together over the past 18 months working to bring people together on the Platform
Committee and promote a consensus on several key issues including but not limited
to: withdrawal from Iraq, single payer health care, marriage equality & elimination
of poverty. Again please follow the link to
http://www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.1196347/

I hope you’ll vote for all of us.

Q. What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member?

As an author, attorney, and activist, I have a lifetime of grassroots experience
in politics and public policy. From the stroller, I’ve engaged in extensive voter
contact, education, and mobilization efforts at the local, state, and federal
levels. I served as executive director of the California Democratic Party, deputy
city attorney and assistant district attorney for the City of San Francisco,
special counsel in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and chief
of staff to U.S. Congressman John F. Tierney (MA-06). Since 1996, I have chaired
the California Democratic Party Platform Committee and served as an elected member
of the Democratic National Committee, where I co-founded the DNC Veterans and
Military Families Council and am a member of the Resolutions Committee.

Q. On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal
goals for each committee?

I would like to continue to serve on the Resolutions Committee to promote the
politics and strategies discussed above.

My personal goal for the committee in 2009 - to help lift up the voices of
grassroots Democrats and to provide a drumbeat for the populist agenda trumpeted
by President Barack Obama and our progressive majorities led by House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

In bottom-up and top-down fashion, it starts with bringing grassroots priorities
to the DNC (i.e. we have an economic anxiety and want the DNC to go on record as
opposing GOP efforts to make the Bush tax cuts permanent) and reflect the good
work our Democrats are doing (to follow the example, the populist tax policy that
favors work over wealth and helps people compete in tough economic times). With a
message that enhances our values and puts us on record as being for a positive
populist agenda, we help Americans see that the Democratic Party is on their side.

In conclusion, I respectfully ask for your vote for re-election to the DNC and
welcome your feedback at Christine@PelosiBootCamp.com. Thank you for your
consideration and for all you do.

ALICE HUFFMAN

A) support and advocate for immediate withdrawal.

B) My life work as the state president and board member of the national NAACP

C) We support single payer universal health care

D) We work to get every vote and to make every vote count. I moved the motion at the now famous rules committee to full enfranchise Florida..we did not have the votes

E) We should not wage war..war is not the answer

F) I have not weighed in on the internet and need more information

G) I did not advocate for impeachment but I know that if the Democrats had committed the atrocities of the Bush administration and they were in charge we would have impeachment proceedings going on now.

H) I lead rallies and lobby days plus anything else in my power to fully fund education and to get rid of sentencing disparities.

I) The California NAACP which I lead is the only African American civil rights organization in the nation supporting “Same Sex Marriage”

J) I oppose all public financing that does not put restrictions on media costs and other expenditures that will allow those who privately fund their campaigns to have an advantage. We need a comprehensive plan

K) Oppose the death penalty and led rallies at the state capitol against recent executions

L) I support alternative energy and use some solar in my home.

I am founder of Future PAC a group that funds African ‘American women and we frequently fund candidates that are challenging incumbents and on one occasion our candidate succeeded.

I am one of those who voted for the progressives to have a caucus even though I thought that many of us on the
Eboard shared the same values. I have never been threatened by the progressive because I believe I am one of you. I have come to you on several occasion to ask you to reach out to communities of color.

I would love your endorsement and believe I have represented California well, I supported Howard Dean and know that I make a difference in the democratic party from the state to the national level.

Please give me your endorsement.

Alice

Alice A. Huffman

1215 K Street, Suite 1609

Sacramento, CA 95814

916 498-1890

Mary Ellen Early

On the list of issues:

A) Ending the US occupation of IRAQ - I have attended anti-war rallies, signed petitions against the war, supported numerous resolutions against the war at the DNC, the CDP and the LACDP, and personally discussed my opposition with members of Congress and other DNC members and DNC officers.

B) Eliminating Poverty - In my family, receiving an education and supporting organized labor has been a path for upward mobility. I became a union member at age 16 when I joined the Retail Clerks International Association (which later merged with the UFCW) for my first part time job. For many years I regularly volunteered for the United Farm Workers, because of my belief that good paying union jobs with benefits were the best way to lift people out of poverty. I am proud to have served on the Education Committee of the Native American Caucus which provides college scholarship money for young Native Americans looking to improve their lives through higher education.

C) Universal Single Payer Healthcare - I joined Healthcare for All, and supported Sheila Kuehl's SB840., as well as all Single Payer Resolutions that have come before the CDP Resolutions Committee. I have continually expressed my belief that "Universal Healthcare" is not worth anything if it is not "Single Payer." It is a disgrace that we are the only industrialized country that does not have a national healthcare program, and we will not have one until the insurance companies and drug manufacturers stop calling the shots. Both Democrats and Republicans have to take responsibility for this, since both are beholding to the lobbyists. You should know that I have made my career in health care, working at non-profit community hospitals that treat underserved communities. I currently work at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, where we serve all who come through our doors regardless of their ability to pay.

D) Election Integrity - I have supported numerous resolutions and signed numerous petitions on this issue, but more important, I have helped to raise money to elect Debra Bowen, who is at the forefront of this issue in California.

E) Preventing a U.S. attack on Iran - When a resolution dealing with this issue came before the CDP Resolutions Committee, I not only supported it but spoke up for making it one of the priority resolutions for the 2007 CDP Convention.

F) Preserving a free and open Internet - I supported the Resolution that came to the CDP Resolutions Committee.

G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney - I supported a compromise resolution that called for consequences up to and including impeachment. I feel that putting all of our energy and resources into impeaching Bush and Cheney was a waste of energy that we need to focus on winning back the White House and increasing our majorities in Congress. Once we have done that, and are firmly in charge of the Executive and Legislative branches of government, I think we should seriously look at prosecuting them after they leave office for war crimes and for leading the American people into what they knew to be an unnecessary war.

H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration - As an alumna of UCLA, I participate in the Governmental Affairs Advocacy Program , lobbying elected officials on issues relating to the University of California is general, and UCLA in particular. I believe that we need to spend more money on education than on prisons.

I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality - I have been a proud member of the Stonewall Democratic Club in Los Angeles for many years, and all that it stands for. Civil Rights includes Gay Rights.

J) Promoting Public Financing of Elections - I support all campaign finance reform that includes public financing, but oppose anything that hamstrings the Democratic Party or its ability to communicate with its members.

K) Abolishing the Death Penalty - I have always been opposed to the death penalty on moral and religious grounds. I oppose any legislation that calls for increased penalties for offenders, because I believe it is not effective in preventing crime.

L) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence - As a DNC member I was lucky to attend a meeting in Alaska, and visit Prudhoe Bay where the Alaska Pipeline begins. That experience convinced me that it would be a grave misuse of our natual resources to drill in the ANWR, and have been emphatically opposed to that, as well as offshore drilling in California. That being said, I believe that we all need to do our part personally to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels. I commute to work less than three miles each way, conserve water in my home, and have a composting system on my property.

If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent 178-billion dollar war package? I oppose any and all funding of the war. I believe we should support our troops by bringing them home, and giving our veterans the benefits that are due to them for serving their country. We also need to provide first class medical care (including psychological care) for all those who have suffered the ravages of this unjust war.

How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the leadership's support for war funding? See answer to A above.

Have you ever supported an insurgentprimary candidate or someone who is challenging an incumbent on an issue? I supported Ted Kennedy over Jimmy Carter and worked on his campaign when he ran for President in 1980. As a member of the CDP Women's Caucus, we supported Sunne McPeak ofver incumbent State Senator Dan Boatright in 1988. I signed on as a co-sponsor of a Resolution at the DNC urging Senator Joe Lieberman not to run for U.S. Senate as an independent after he lost the Democratic party nomination. This resolution was withdrawn by the author under pressure from the Connecticut Democratic Party (many of whom were still supporting Lieberman). I think we would all be better off today if he had not run.

What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent Progressive values on the E-board? or Why should progressives on the CDP E-board vote for you as a DNC delegate? I have tried to demystify the the DNC by instituting the California DNC Press Democrat, which seeks to inform members of the CDP of DNC proceedings and issues. I have also participated in delivering DNC Reports at CDP meetings. Neither of these was done prior to my time on the DNC. I have faithfully attended all meetings of the CDP, and have made myself available to discuss issues and answer questions regarding the DNC. I have tried to remain approachable and open to hearing all points of view.

Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not? Yes, I think members of Congress and Democratic Governors should have uncommitted status. They should have a say in who our party's nominee will be, since they will be running on the same slate. I also feel that DNC members should have uncommitted status as well. All uncommitted delegates are in a unique position to meet and evaluate presidential candidates. Many of us on the California delegation were very excited when we heard Howard Dean speak to us in 2003, and we came back and spread the word among people we knew here in California. Giving uncommitted status to all of us also means that we will not be running at CD Caucuses, and competing for delegate slots with local activists.

Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other candidates running with you and what was the process for choosing these candidates to run with you? The only slate I have paid to be on is a slate with the nine incumbent female members of the DNC. We have worked together on the DNC as a cohesive group, all of us have skills that complement the others, and I respect the talents that each of the other members brings to our delegation.

What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member? In terms of my leadership, I have served the CDP over the years as an AD Chair, Regional Director, Resolutions Committee Member, and have served my local community as an active member of my County Party, and as a club president. I have also served on the DNC for 20 years, I understand the structure, and what works and what doesn't. I have developed relationships with other DNC members, and can reach out beyond the California delegation to find support for issues.

On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal goals for each committee? There are only three committes on the DNC: Rules and Bylaws, Credentials, and Resolutions. Each committee has about 30 members, so it is unlikely that California will have more than three members per committee. In other words, it is not possible for every DNC member to serve on a committee, but there are other ways of participating at the DNC. In addition to being a member of the Women's Caucus, I regularly attend the Native American Coordinating Council, serving as a liaison with the Native American Caucus of the CDP.

GARRY SHAY

"What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent progressive values on the E-Board? or Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC delegate?"

I became involved in Democratic Party politics before I was old enough to vote when,
as a high school senior in 1972, I supported George McGovern in his campaign for the
Presidency. Ever since, I have devoted most of my spare time to helping elect
Democrats to public office and ensuring a fair and open Democratic Party. I have
served at all levels of the Democratic Party. I have served as President of the
Stonewall Democratic Club in Los Angeles and Chair of the Los Angeles County
Democratic Party. I am currently serving as a member of the Rules Committee of the
DNC; Lead Chair, Rules Committee of the California Democratic Party and
Parliamentarian of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.

My primary involvement and passion within the Party has been from a rules
perspective. This is because it has always been my conviction that the best and only
way to ensure grass-roots participation in the Party is through its Rules and
Bylaws. Party structure can either serve to expand or contract participation. I
believe in ensuring the fullest and most diverse participation possible.

We will be electing nineteen (19) members of the DNC at our Executive Board Meeting
during the weekend of June 13, through June 15, 2008, in San Francisco. In the past,
Presidential Campaigns simply decreed who our representatives would be. It was not
until I authored the current bylaw provision on election of DNC members that the
Executive Board has been given full and complete control over the election of DNC
members. This is but one example of my commitment to assuring the fullest possible
participation of Party members in Party affairs.

I believe I have served you and the California Democratic Party well over the last
sixteen years as a DNC member. In that time I have attended every meeting of the DNC
and of the Western States Conference of the DNC.

During my first term I was appointed to the Rules Committee of the DNC, and I was
re-appointed after my re-election in 1996, 2000, and 2004. I am the longest serving
Californian on the Rules Committee.

The following is a list of some of my accomplishments and activities:

1. Serving as a member of the Rules Committee of the Democratic National Committee I
was able to:

A. Expand the Delegate Selection Rules to provide for inclusion of Persons with
Disabilities, Youth, Senior, and LGBT Communities among those who must be addressed
in State Outreach Programs and who must be given priority of consideration for
At-large Delegate seats in order to increase their participation to levels
commensurate with their presence in the Democratic Electorate,

B. Bring about at least a four fold increase in the number of States and Territories
that have goals for their State Delegations to the Democratic National Convention
for the LGBT Community, increasing them from 16 in 2004 to 50 in 2008; and bring
about a five fold increase in the number States with goals for their State
Delegations to the Democratic National Convention for the Persons with Disabilities
Community increasing them from 7 in 2004 to 34 in 2008.

C. Help form the Gay and Lesbian Caucus of the DNC along with current California
delegation members Rachel Binah, Alice Huffman, Hon. Carol Migden, Keith Umemoto and
Roz Wyman, who were particularly helpful in making this caucus a reality. [NOTE:
There were many people involved in this process. These are the current California
members who had direct, hands on, involvement, spoke out in favor of the creation of
the caucus, and/or helped to eliminate opposition.],

D. At the direction of the Executive Board of the California Democratic Party,
eliminate the phrase "philosophical persuasion" from the list of categories subject
to non-discrimination in the Charter of the Democratic Party of the United States.

2. Editing, along with Mary Ellen Early, the "California DNC Press", our
delegation's newsletter on events occurring at the Democratic National Committee and
its various meetings. I have written an article for nearly every newsletter since I
was elected to the DNC in 1992. Most recently, I have been writing on the activities
of the National Rules Committee, helping to keep everyone informed on the various
rules changes,

3. Along with other members of the delegation, helping to bring the 2000 Convention to Los Angeles,

4. Fighting to insure that the California Primary could be used to determine
national convention delegate distribution after Proposition 198 converted our state
primary to an "open primary" system, and

5. Testifying against Proposition 198 (Open Primary) in Federal District Court,
which was eventually overturned.

6. Keeping our own CDP Bylaws in compliance with National Rules.

7. I have shown a commitment to the grassroots of our party in Party affairs:

A. As CDP Rules Committee Lead Chair, I authored the current system of electing
California’s members of the DNC by way of Executive Board vote, thus keeping control
of the election of the DNC members "localized" as opposed to the former system of
election by the National Convention Delegation, which in reality vested control of
the delegation in the hands of the Presidential Candidates’ Steering Committees.

B. I have supported a proposal to expand the state elected membership of the DNC to
help balance out the numerous elected officials and direct appointments that have
been added over the last several years.

C. I have repeatedly pledged to abide by any direction the CDP Executive Board may
give its delegation members and have carried out that pledge when called upon to do
so.

D. I founded and publish Garry’s DemocraticNewsGroup on Yahoo!Groups, located at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DemocraticNewsGroup/, my list-serve "Newsletter",
containing news stories on a multitude of subjects, information about the Democratic
Party, current events, and other topics from computer tips to the rare piece of
humor I find interesting. My postings reach many thousands of people.
I believe these activities illustrate my commitment to serving the California
Democratic Party and keeping you informed of the activities of the Democratic
National Committee. Because of commitments like this, and our delegation members’
involvement and desire to work together to achieve what is best for California and
the Nation, we have one of the best delegations to the DNC.
.
Local Democratic Clubs:

Stonewall Democratic Club – Currently serving as Parliamentarian. Positions
previously held: President, Administrative Vice-President, Budget and Finance Chair,
Bylaws Committee Chair, Membership Chair, and Newsletter Chair,
Action Democrats (winner of its 2006 Distinguished Achievement Award)
West Hollywood Democratic Club

Los Angeles County Democratic Party:
In l973 I was appointed as an alternate to the Los Angeles County Democratic Central
Committee and won election in my own right in 1974. I have served continuously since
then. The LACDCC has twice elected me to serve as its Vice-Chair. Seven different
Chairs of the LACDCC have appointed me to serve either as Chair of the Committee's
Rules Committee, its Parliamentarian, or both. I have also been elected as a
Regional Vice-President and have been selected by my then local delegation as
"Democrat of the Year." I was elected as Chair in July of 1996 and re-elected in
1998. I am currently serving as its Parliamentarian.
California Democratic Party:

I have been a member of the Democratic State Central Committee and its Executive
Board since 1978. State Party Chairs O'Neil, Kelly, Smith, Pelosi, Brown, Angelides,
Press, and Torres have all appointed me to serve either as a Co-Chair of the State
Party Rules Committee, or as one of its members. I have been a member of that
committee continuously since 1979, having the longest tenure of any of the
Committee's members.

I authored the delegate selection procedures for the 1982 National Mid-term Convention.
After the CDP won the right to make Pre-primary endorsements, State Party Chair
Betty Smith appointed me to Chair the Rules Revision Task Force to develop a
proposal for By-law amendments regarding endorsements. This Task Force reported its
recommendations to the Rules Committee. Most of these were eventually adopted by the
Executive Board.

I authored the bylaw which ensured that the State Party Executive Board would have
the power to elect the California Delegation to the DNC and that they would not be
appointed by the Presidential Campaigns, as they had been in the past.

I have presided over three major periods of review and revision of the CDP Bylaws
necessitated by changes in the law, with nearly all recommendations being accepted.

I have also served as Parliamentarian of the Lesbian and Gay Caucus of the Party and
am a member of the Progressive Caucus.

I was appointed by Art Torres to serve as a Deputy Chair of the Party.
National Democratic Party:

On the National level, I have been an alternate to the 1980 Democratic National
Convention and a delegate to the 1982 National Mid-term Convention as well as the
1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 National Conventions.

After having been appointed by State Party Chair Dick O'Neil as a temporary member
of the Rules Committee of the 1980 Democratic National Convention, I co-authored the
National Party's sexual orientation non-discrimination clause. At the 1982 Mid-Term
Conference, I authored the Platform Planks on sexual orientation non-discrimination.
The 1984, 1988, and 1992 State Party Executive Boards have each elected me to serve
as one of California's representatives on the Rules Committee of the National
Convention.

As a result of my efforts, the National Party amended its Delegate Selection Rules
so as to adopt outreach programs for Persons With Disabilities and the LGBT
Community in 2002 for the 2004 Convention and Inclusion Programs in 2006 for the
2008 Convention which call for achievement of full participation of these groups
based upon their presence in the Democratic Electorate. As a result, 50 of the 56
States and Territories now have goals for LGBT delegates; previously, this was only
true of 16 jurisdictions.

The State Party Executive Board has elected me four times to serve as one of
California's representatives to the Democratic National Committee.
I am currently serving as a member of the Rules Committee of the Democratic National
Committee.

Professional and Governmental:
I am an attorney by profession. I graduated from Southwestern University School of
Law in 1980 and have been a practicing attorney for the last twenty-seven years. I
am currently an Associate at the Law Firm of Chernow and Lieb, practicing Workers'
Compensation law.

I have been involved in local government as well. I served on the West Hollywood
Transportation Commission for over ten years, often as either Chair or Vice-Chair.
LAUSD School Board member Caprice Young appointed me to serve on a Commission of the
LAUSD for Gay and Lesbian Youth.

I would like an opportunity to serve you again in this regard. If re-elected, I
promise that I will strive to represent your issues and make your concerns heard on
the DNC. I pledge to follow any instructions which the Executive Board might give to
its delegation. I hope that I can count on your support for re-election to the
Democratic National Committee.

Ahjamu Makalani

If you are an incumbent DNC member, what have you done as a DNC member to promote the progressive agenda on the following issues.

a) Ending the US occupation of Iraq

b) Eliminating Poverty

C) Promoting Universal Single-Payer Healthcare

D) Ensuring Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted as cast)

E) Preventing a US attack on Iran

F) Preserving a free and open Internet

G) Impeaching or indicting Bush and Cheney

H) Redirecting California's resources to support education, not incarceration

I) Protecting LGBT Rights and Promoting Marriage Equality

J) Promoting public financing of elections

K) Abolishing the death penalty

L) Promoting alternative energy/energy independence

If you are not a DNC incumbent, what have you done to address the issues enumerated above?

Since becoming socially conscious I have engaged in numerous actions that were designed to bring a change in the social condition that affects a vast majority of our populous. As the chair the progressive student coalition we fought for these issues that we called peace dividends. Secondly, I was one of many activists who were involved in forming the January 27^th coalition that sponsored an anti-war demonstration in Los Angeles. Moreover, me, Brad Parker, and Jo Olson worked with members of the labor caucus to craft the net neutrality resolution which is now part of the CDP platform. Thirdly, I worked in a collaborative effort with other Progressive Caucus executive board members where we sponsored a forum on health care Furthermore, I worked with Susie Shannon in direct actions designed to minimize the harsh effects of resource deprivation for those who are homeless and disenfranchised. For additional information regarding my involvement in social and political change email me at amakalan2002@yahoo.com

a) Ending the US occupation of Iraq

b) Eliminating Poverty

C) Promoting Universal Single-Payer Healthcare

D) Ensuring Election Integrity (protecting each vote to ensure it is counted as cast)

E) Preventing a US attack on Iran

F) Preserving a free and open Internet

J) Promoting public financing of elections

If you had been in Congress, how would you have voted for the most recent 178-billion dollar war package?

First, as a member of Congress I would have never voted for the illegal act of aggression against Iraq. Furthermore, to vote for an additional billion dollars to maintain the occupation is immoral and reprehensible. I would vote for $178 billion dollars to be allocating for social needs and infrastructure improvement.

How have you used your activism or Party involvement to challenge the leadership's support for war funding?

I have been outspoken about current Democratic Party’s leadership support of the occupation of Iraq. Secondly, I have written collaboratively with other like minded progressives in raising the contradiction of the Leadership’s domestic and foreign policy.

Have you ever supported an insurgent primary candidate or someone who is challenging an incumbent on the issues?

Since insurgent means to revolt against establish authority I have supported and work for Marcy Winograd in her efforts to unseat Jane Harman. I also, worked on Cynthia Matthews Campaign to unseat Republican David Drier.

What qualifies you, in terms of your organizing work, to represent progressive values on the E-Board?

First, I work well with others when trying to move a project or an objective forward. I have served during my involvement in social struggle in a decision making capacity.

Why should progressives on the CDP E-Board vote for you as a DNC delegate?

Because I have commitment in trying to push our progressive agenda secondly, I will do the necessary work in making our voice heard while building consensus with those who may disagree.

Do you think we should have super delegates? Why or why not?

I assert that super delegates should be done away with all decisions and must be democratic both nature and action.

Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are the other candidates running on your slate and what was the process for choosing these candidates to run with you?

I am on two slates one with the Progressive Caucus Executive Board Officers and another Brad Parker, Dr Jo Olson and Christine Pelosi, my reasoning is that they are members of the progressive swarm furthermore; Christine Pelosi was instrumental helping to get progressive language and positions in the CDP platform which has become the most progressive platform in the nation.

What experience has prepared you to run as a DNC member?

20 or so years in social political activism beginning with my membership in the Black Student Union, Pan African Student Union, Progressive Student Alliance, Sacramento Black Area Caucus

Precinct walking for several candidates both in San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Sacramento

My experience in a leadership capacity with the following organizations:

Upland Progressive Democrat Club, Vice Chair

San Bernardino County Central Committee, 1^st Vice Chair

Progressive Caucus, Vice Chair

On which committee(s) would you like to serve and what are your personal goals for each committee?

If elected I would like to serve on the platform committee where my goal would be to assist in crafting resolutions that would be progressive in nature and intent and to work in a liberal progressive body: see CDP Progressive Caucus Progressive Plan.

Ralph I. Miller

Mayme Hubert, member of the Rural Caucus, Officer of the Progressive Caucus

Dr. Bill Durston running against Dan Lungren in CD-3

Charlie Brown running against Tom McClintock or Doug Ose in CD-4